grand prairie dental emergency

How Emergency Dentistry Addresses Damaged Teeth

Emergency dentistry allows our team to see you quickly and resolve serious concerns with your smile. When you have chipped or broken a tooth, or if one is knocked out, you should contact our team right away. In today’s blog, your Grand Prairie, TX, dentist talks about how we respond to damaged teeth with emergency dental care.

Chipped/Cracked Teeth

When a tooth becomes cracked or chipped, whether as a result of an injury or biting down on a hard piece of food, this could lead to major complications. Even minor damage could expose these sensitive inner tooth structures to bacteria, which enables cavities and infection to form, causing painful symptoms and risks for the stability of the tooth. If you sustain an injury and no damage is visible, then consider an appointment to make sure there isn’t a fracture, as this could be invisible to the naked eye.

When a tooth is injured, call us for an appointment. You should then rinse with warm water and use cloth or gauze to control any bleeding. A cold compress can also prevent facial swelling. Try to recover any pieces you can find and if possible, bring them to the office with you.

Knocked-Out Teeth

If you have a tooth knocked out, don’t panic! Pick it up by the crown portion, not the root, and place it in a glass or salad container of milk or salt water. Bring it with you to the office. You can stem the bleeding and control facial swelling with the same steps mentioned above. You can also take an over-the-counter pain reliever as needed.

See Us Right Away!

If you reach us during our normal business hours, then we will likely try to set up a same-day appointment. If you call us outside of our normal business hours, then leave a message. We will reach out to you with possible appointment times afterward, so we can see you in the next day or two and provide treatment. For minor damage to a tooth, we could provide repair in some visits with dental bonding, using the same lifelike material we employ as part of our lifelike tooth fillings. If you have more substantial injuries, we could create and place a natural-looking dental crown. Our team can also restore a knocked-out tooth to its proper place in your smile.

If you have any questions about emergency dentistry, please reach out to our team today to learn more! We want to offer tips for protecting your smile, as well as custom mouthguards, so damage is less likely. Our team can also address injuries to help you avoid complications like tooth decay, so you can enjoy a good looking and healthy smile.

Learn More About Emergency Dentistry    

We want to help you avoid the complications of an untreated emergency dental issue, such as a broken or knocked-out tooth. Don’t delay when a tooth is injured or aching! When you are ready to schedule your appointment with our office, contact Pecan Tree Dental in Grand Prairie, TX at 972-262-5111.