Dental Emergency
A dental emergency can strike when you least expect it, causing discomfort and anxiety. At True Dental in Chattanooga, Hixson, and Trenton, we understand these situations require immediate attention and a compassionate touch.
Common Dental Emergencies and How to Handle Them
Our team of emergency dentists is here to provide prompt and expert care. Here's how you can manage common dental emergencies before reaching our office:
Toothache: A sudden toothache can be caused by various factors, such as a cavity, infection, or a cracked tooth.
- Rinse your mouth with warm water.
- Gently floss to ensure there's no debris caught between your teeth.
- Alleviate discomfort by taking over-the-counter pain relievers until you can see our emergency dentist.
Knocked-Out Tooth: If a tooth is knocked out due to injury, you must act quickly.
- Pick up the tooth by the crown (the part visible in your mouth) and avoid touching the root.
- Rinse it gently with water if it's dirty, but do not scrub it.
- Try to place the tooth back into its socket, if possible.
- If this isn’t feasible, keep the tooth moist by placing it in milk or between your cheek and gum.
- Contact our emergency dentist immediately for the best chance of saving the tooth.
Chipped or Broken Tooth: Accidents, trauma, biting on hard objects, or untreated tooth decay can lead to a chipped or broken tooth.
- Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area.
- If there's bleeding, apply gentle pressure with gauze.
- Save any broken pieces if possible. Our emergency dentist can assess the damage and provide appropriate treatment to restore your tooth.
Lost Dental Filling or Crown: A lost dental filling or crown can expose sensitive tooth structures, so you must protect the area.
- Apply a small amount of dental cement (available at most drugstores) or temporary dental adhesive.
- Avoid using regular glue or adhesive.
- Contact us promptly to replace the filling or crown and prevent complications.
Object Stuck Between Teeth: Objects can become lodged between teeth while eating sticky foods, using teeth as tools, or dental restorations with irregular edges.
- Gently floss to remove it.
- Avoid using sharp objects, as they can damage your gums or teeth.
- If the object remains stuck, contact our emergency dentist for assistance.
Abscess or Swelling: An abscess is a serious dental infection that requires immediate attention.
- Rinse your mouth with warm saltwater to reduce discomfort and draw out some of the infection.
- Avoid applying heat externally, as it can worsen the swelling.
- Contact our emergency dentist to treat the infection and prevent it from spreading.
Pain and Discomfort: Dental pain or discomfort can result from tooth decay, gum disease, tooth sensitivity, or dental infections.
- Take over-the-counter pain relievers, like ibuprofen, to manage pain and inflammation.
- Avoid putting aspirin directly on the gum or tooth to prevent tissue damage.
- Apply a cold compress to the affected area to reduce swelling and provide temporary relief.
