Emergencies can be stressful. Dental emergencies are no exception. They are painful and frightening. Prompt treatment is necessary to address the pain and to make sure your teeth have the best possible chance to survive.
There are several reasons for emergencies. Your teeth can be fractured by trauma, biting hard or grinding. There can be situations where crowns, fillings or restorative devices become damaged or fall from the mouth. If you are experiencing severe pain, you need to contact Topanga Dental right away so we can provide you immediate attention. Pain resulting from dental emergencies worsens without treatment, and as you know, dental issues can jeopardize your overall physical wellness.
Kinds of Dental Emergencies and How to Address Them
Avulsed Tooth
If you have had a tooth knocked completely out of the mouth, you have to get to a dentist right away. When a tooth exits your mouth, you can expect nerves, blood vessels and tissues to be damaged. If your tooth can get put back in the socket within an hour, there is a chance that tissues will regrow to support the tooth again.
Here is What You Need to Do:
- Call Topanga Dental immediately.
- Pick up the tooth by its crown and rinse it off using warm water. Don’t touch the root of the tooth.
- If possible, place the tooth back into the socket. Otherwise, tuck it into your cheek pouch.
- If you can’t get the tooth back in the mouth, it should be put in a cup of milk, saliva or as a last resort, water. Make sure the tooth doesn’t dry out.
- Get to Topanga Dental quickly and safely so we can help.
We will try to put the tooth back into its natural socket. There will be instances when the tooth will reattach, but if there is serious damage to the inner mechanisms of the tooth, we may have to recommend root canal therapy.
Lost Crown or Filling
More often than not, a crown or filling loosens during eating. Once it has fallen from the mouth, the affected tooth may become immediately sensitive to pressure and temperature changes. Crowns usually get loose because the tooth underneath has started to decay. Decay changes teeth’s shape, making the crown no longer fit.
If the crown has fallen from the mouth, make an immediate appointment with Topanga Dental. The crown needs to be kept in a safe, cool place because there is chance that it can be reinserted. If a crown is out of the mouth for too long, it can cause your teeth to shift or get worse damage.
When we are not immediately available, here is what you should do:
- Apply clove oil directly onto the tooth to alleviate the pain.
- Clean the crown thoroughly then attach it onto the tooth using dental cement. You can obtain this product at a local pharmacy.
- If you have lost the crown, smear the top of the tooth with dental cement in an effort to alleviate the discomfort.
- Do not attempt to glue the crown onto the tooth.
The staff at Topanga Dental will check the crown to see if it still fits your tooth. If it does, we will reattach it to your tooth. Where decay has been discovered, we will treat it and make a new crown.
Broken or Cracked Teeth
Your teeth are very strong, but they can still be cracked, broken or fractured. Sometimes a fracture is relatively painless, but if the crack reaches down into the root, it is likely you will start experiencing extreme discomfort. Fractures, breaks, and cracks can take many different forms, but most often they are the result of biting, grinding and trauma. If you have a tooth to fracture of crack, your only option is to schedule an immediate appointment with Topanga Dental.
If a segment of tooth has been broken off, you need to do these things:
- Call Topanga Dental.
- Rinse off the tooth fragment and the mouth using lukewarm water.
- If there is bleeding, apply gauze to the area for about 10 minutes.
- To minimize pain and swelling, place a damp, cold dish towel to the cheek.
- Get over-the-counter dental cement to cover the area in instances when you cannot see us right away.
- Take a topical pain medication.
We are limited by what we can do dependent upon the nature of the fracture or the break. If a crack or fracture extends down into the root, the most effective way to keep the tooth is by root canal therapy. If there has been a complete break, your dentist may affix the fragment back on the tooth as a precautionary and temporary measure.
Dislodged or Loose Teeth
When decay or trauma has loosened or dislodged a tooth, it may be saved. If the tooth stays in the mouth where it is connected to the nerves and blood vessels, there is a significant chance that a root canal may not be required.
You should call Topanga Dental right away to schedule an emergency appointment. During the meantime, you should use a cold compress and over-the-counter pain medications. Your dentist will reposition the tooth and stabilize it with splints. If the tooth doesn’t properly heal, a root canal may be necessary.
If you experience any kind of dental emergency, call Dr. Maria Saguin, DDS and the team at Topanga Dental right away for fast, professional help.
Build your confidence with a brighter, whiter smile! Studies have proven that people with clean, bright smiles are perceived as friendlier, smarter, and more successful. One of the best ways to improve your smile is through modern cosmetic dentistry. In fact, cosmetic dentistry is a viable option for nearly anyone seeking a captivatingly white smile.
Although a white smile is important, whole oral health is our chief concern when furnishing cosmetic dentistry services. Topanga Dental furnishes Invisalign clear braces, teeth whitening procedures, porcelain veneers, and Lumineers that rectify a wide range of dental problems. You’ll love what we can do to improve your smile!
Full mouth restorations, Root Canal Treatments, Dentures, Crowns, Bridges, and more…
Root Canal Treatment
A Root Canal Treatment (RCT) usually requires 1 to 3 dental appointments. Upon your first visit, we will excavate the tooth’s surface to reach the chamber inside. Next, the chamber is disinfected and cleaned to remove diseased tissue. After the tiny canals are reshaped, medication for preventing infection and an elastic material are filled into the canals and the inner chamber. Temporary fillings may be necessary to fill the hole until a crown is made to permanently seal it.
Dental Implants
Dental implants provide a longer lasting solution to missing teeth than dentures or bridges. An artificial root is implanted into the jaw, and a prosthetic tooth is installed onto that root. Its appearance is natural and blends in with the rest of your teeth.
Dental Crowns
A crown (also called a cap) acts as a covering over the surface of your tooth so that the natural size and shape is restored. Crowns are available in several different materials, but the most popular is porcelain because the color looks natural. This is a durable option but might need to be replaced after several years, like other dental restorations.
Veneers and Lumineers
Veneers and Lumineers can be fitted over your teeth if they are discolored, misaligned, stained, or chipped. The advantage of both is that they do not require any movement of tooth structure. They are as thin as contact lenses and a great cosmetic solution that is permanent and painless.
Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is the least invasive way to improving your smile and easily making it shinier and brighter. We offer two types of procedures for this popular option: the “Nite White” home bleaching kit and Zoom! Chair Side Teeth Whitening System.
