Toothache
One of the top reasons we encourage our patients never to skip their dental cleaning every six months is so that we can catch problems early on. Catching a cavity in its earlier stage will prevent it from worsening or causing severe toothache. If you suddenly encounter a severe toothache, we suggest you take the following steps. First, rinse your mouth out with water. This will help dislodge any debris that might be stuck between your teeth. Next, brush and floss your teeth to remove the debris. If your toothache persists after these steps, try taking over-the-counter pain relievers. If you find that the pain becomes worse or experience a fever or swelling with it, please contact us.
Dental Abscess
When a tooth becomes infected, you may experience a dental abscess. An abscess is a pocket of pus that either develops near the tip of the tooth root or alongside the gumline. Abscesses can occur from untreated cavities, dry mouth, injury, or eating a high-sugar diet. You might experience symptoms like fever, facial swelling, sensitivity, and throbbing pain. If the abscess ruptures, you will experience pain relief and a gross salty taste in your mouth. Please contact us for immediate assistance if you have a dental abscess or an infected tooth.
Broken, Cracked, or Chipped Tooth
If you experience any physical trauma to the mouth, you will likely crack, break, or chip a tooth. The severity of the trauma will determine whether or not you need immediate attention. A small chip isn’t worth the trip as a dental emergency. However, if the crack goes down your entire tooth or your tooth becomes broken more than just a chip, you should seek more immediate attention. More damage might be done to your tooth than you can see with your naked eye.
Dislodged or Knocked-Out Tooth
With the right amount of force or pressure, a tooth can get knocked-out or just slightly dislodged. When this happens, you need immediate attention. If your tooth gets completely knocked out, apply pressure with a gauze or a towel to the empty socket to stop the bleeding. You should also find your knocked-out tooth and place it in a cup of milk, water, or saltwater. This is to prevent the tooth from drying out. After contacting us, it’s important to have your tooth back in your mouth as soon as possible to save it.
Damaged or Lost Restorations
If you have a dental filling that falls out or a dental crown, bridge, or porcelain veneer that cracks, breaks, or falls off, these are also important to address early on. This also applies to other restorations like dentures, inlays, or onlays. The purpose of these restorations is to either replace a missing tooth or preserve the health and strength of an existing tooth. The restorations are vital to preserving your dental health and functionality.
If you have a dental emergency or think you might have one, don’t hesitate to contact our Rochester dental office for immediate assistance and, if necessary, coordination of further care with our network of experienced professionals. You can reach us by calling (248) 656-2020.