6 Dental Emergencies and What to Do with an Emergency Dentist in Rochester

It can happen to anyone. One minute, life is going fine, and the next, you have a dental emergency! What should you do? Time is precious, and you need to take the right actions to get the best possible treatment. Your first step should be contacting and going to your emergency dentist in Rochester immediately. But what if you can’t see them right away? How do you manage your emergency in the meantime? Here are some common scenarios and actions you can take until you can go in to the dentist.

Cracked, Chipped, or Fractured Tooth

When you crack, chip, or fracture a tooth, you need to keep it clean, so rinse your mouth with warm water. Use a cold compress on your face to keep any swelling down. See your dentist as soon as you can so they can protect your tooth from bacteria.

Partially Dislodged Tooth

When a tooth has partially come out of its socket, leave it in your mouth to give you the best chances of saving it. Use over-the-counter pain medications and a cold pack to relieve pain while you wait.

Fully Knocked-Out Tooth

If possible, find the tooth. Avoid touching the root, and try to put it back in the socket. If that’s not feasible, keep the tooth moist by holding it between your cheek and gums or putting it in milk until you can get to the dentist.

For a child who knocks out a baby tooth, keep it moist and take your child to the dentist to determine if the whole tooth came out.

Severe Toothache

When you experience a severe toothache, it means the nerves of your tooth have become agitated. Try to gently floss around the tooth to remove anything that may be stuck between your teeth. If pain persists, the most likely culprit is tooth decay that has penetrated to the pulp, or center of the tooth, where the blood vessels and nerves are. In this case, you’ll need root canal therapy to clean out the decay. While you wait for your appointment, you can take over-the-counter pain medication and use a cold compress on the outside of your mouth.

Stuck Object between Teeth

If you have an object stuck between your teeth, try to gently remove it using floss. Do not try to use sharp or pointed instruments, which can cause more pain or infection. If you can’t remove the object, call your dentist.

Bitten Tongue or Lip

If you bite your tongue or lip, you can clean the area with water and apply a cold pack. If there is excessive bleeding or the bleeding won’t stop after 10 minutes, go to the emergency room.

No one knows when a dental emergency will happen, but you can know how to respond when one does. If you follow these tips, you’ll be able to handle the situation calmly and get the best care possible for the situation. For more information about dental emergencies or how to deal with them, contact your dentist in Rochester.

About the Practice

Husband-and-wife team Dr. Joseph Vollo and Dr. Katherine Vollo bought their practice, Vollo Dental Group, in 2016 and offer comprehensive dental care to patients in Rochester. Although their services range from cosmetic dentistry to advanced dental implants to emergency dentistry, they try to focus on preventive care to keep their patients’ smile happy and healthy. For more information, you can contact them by calling (585) 225-9114 or clicking here.