Urgent Care, Gentle Touch
Emergency Dentist Farmington Hills, MI
Emergency dental services treat acute injuries and illnesses affecting the teeth, gums, and jaw to restore function and aesthetics while preventing complications. Dentists offering emergency dental services are important when severe tooth pain strikes. Their services are also useful for individuals who break or lose a tooth, as seeking care right away can potentially restore their smile.
Emergency Dentist
Emergency dental services are available at Farmington Dental Studio in Farmington Hills and the surrounding area. When you or a family member has a dental emergency, seek help immediately. Medical care can often help patients avoid complications such as infection and difficulty speaking or eating. Call us at (248) 579-5312 to explore your options.
How Emergency Dentistry Works
Most dental practices offer routine checkups and cleanings with appointments. For most minor problems, patients can call ahead to schedule an appointment within a few days to resolve the issue. Emergency dentistry treats patients dealing with significant dental trauma who need immediate care.
Emergency dentistry treats patients dealing with significant dental trauma who need immediate care.
Treating a Toothache or Abscess
As WebMD explains, the type of treatment for a dental emergency depends on the patient's specific injury. While waiting for an appointment with their dentist, the injured individual may need basic first aid. The patient may need to wait for a callback from the emergency dental practice outside regular office hours.
For a severe toothache, rinse the mouth thoroughly with warm water and remove any food particles gently with dental floss. Cold compresses can help with swelling and pain in the affected area. Do not place a painkiller such as aspirin against the painful tooth, as doing so can injure the gum tissue. However, taking acetaminophen orally can often control the pain associated with a toothache. Avoid aspirin, which can exacerbate bleeding.
If an abscess develops on the gum tissue, rinse your mouth with a saltwater solution a few times a day. Depending on the reason for the pain, the dentist may remove or repair the decayed tooth before prescribing an antibiotic to relieve the infection.
While waiting for an appointment with their dentist, the injured individual should perform basic first aid.
Benefits of Emergency Dental Care
Emergency dental treatment helps relieve mouth pain quickly and effectively. Dental trauma can occur from an accident or an injury. Seeking immediate care when a problem occurs prevents it from becoming a more extensive issue requiring harsher treatments. By taking control of dental emergencies and visiting the dentist immediately, patients can drastically improve their oral health.
Go to an Emergency Room Instead of the Dentist
There are instances where one would go to the emergency room for a dental issue. When dealing with trauma to the face and mouth that could be life-threatening or lead to severe disability, a hospital ER is the place to go. Jaw fractures, dislocations, or swelling in the mouth area that affects breathing are examples of situations in which one should proceed to the nearest emergency room.
While an ER can help to treat medical injuries and issues, there are limits to what they can do for a dental emergency. Thus, people with damage to their teeth should see a dentist who has the proper equipment and training. Most ERs do not have a dentist on staff. They often provide pain medications and antibiotics and tell the patient to see a dentist as soon as possible. Also, a visit to a hospital emergency room is costly. The best thing to do in the case of a dental emergency is to call a dentist right away.
While an ER can help to treat medical injuries and issues, there are limits to what they can do for a dental emergency.
What To Do While Waiting For Emergency Dental Treatment
If a patient is suffering from any kind of dental trauma, the first thing to do is contact the dentist for instructions. Treatment options vary depending upon the type of problem. For a lost filling or crown, patients can use a small piece of sugarless gum to cover the opening temporarily. Mouth pain can sometimes be alleviated with over-the-counter medications, while extensive dental trauma may require patients to pack their mouths with gauze.
If a patient is suffering from any kind of dental trauma, the first thing to do is contact the dentist for instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I avoid a dental emergency?
Protect your teeth and gums when playing sports by using a mouthguard made to fit your mouth precisely. Do not chew hard items such as candy and ice that can damage teeth. Do not use your teeth as tools (to open a package, for example), which can also cause breakage and injury. Keep a first aid kit with gauze and acetaminophen in case of a dental injury.
Is tooth sensitivity a dental emergency?
If you experience pain or sensitivity when the teeth are exposed to heat, cold, or pressure, a cavity could be the cause. This symptom is also common among those who have recently had a dental procedure. However, it does not constitute an emergency unless the pain becomes severe.
What type of pain signals a dental emergency?
Sharp pain that occurs when you bite down often indicates a broken or damaged tooth. If pain occurs in the gum area within 30 seconds or so of eating hot or cold food, this could indicate damage or infection to the pulp of the tooth. Both of these situations require immediate dental care.
Should I seek emergency dental care for a small crack or chip?
Minor damage to the teeth is often painless and is not necessarily an emergency. Chips and cracks that affect only the tooth's enamel can often be filled, polished, and smoothed. However, you should see the dentist right away to prevent further damage. A crack or break in the tooth becomes more urgent when the root is exposed, which can cause severe pain.
What if I have a loose adult tooth?
A loose permanent tooth is a dental emergency. If left untreated, the tooth could fall out entirely. Gently push the tooth back into alignment and see a dentist right away for reattachment.
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Wed: 9:00AM to 2:00PM
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