Dental Emergencies Specialist

What are dental emergencies?

A dental emergency is any type of oral health concern that needs immediate attention. Dental emergencies typically occur without warning, so working with a dentist who offers emergency care is essential when planning for unexpected oral health issues. Whether you have a broken tooth or tooth pain, Iliff Family Dental can diagnose and help treat your dental emergency.

What are the most common signs of dental emergencies?

Understanding the signs of dental emergencies can help prepare you for unexpected injury and damage. Contact the Iliff Family Dental team right away if you experience any of the following:

• Severe toothache
• Bleeding that won’t stop
• Facial swelling
• Jaw pain
• Knocked-out tooth
• Fractured tooth
• Non-healing sores

Bad breath (halitosis) is a common sign of advanced periodontal disease (gum disease) and abscesses. A tooth abscess is a pus-filled sac that forms near the tooth root. If ruptured, an abscess can cause severe pain and spread harmful bacteria into the bloodstream. Early intervention is the best treatment to prevent complications.

What should I do for dental emergencies?

If you think you have a dental emergency, contact Iliff Family Dental for immediate guidance and schedule a same-day visit. The team recommends taking precautions if you experience any of the following dental emergencies:

Knocked-out teeth

If you have a knocked-out tooth, try to locate the tooth. Gently rinse the tooth without disrupting the root portion. Finally, reinsert the tooth into its socket and carefully bite down to hold it in place. If you can’t insert the tooth, store it in a glass of milk or saliva and bring it to your visit.

Fractured teeth

If you can, try to locate the missing piece of tooth for your appointment. When you experience pain and facial swelling, apply an ice pack until your visit. 

Severe toothache

A severe toothache can indicate an infection, so it’s important to avoid taking any pain relievers until the team diagnoses the cause of your pain. You can apply an ice pack in the meantime to reduce swelling and minimize pain.

Facial swelling

Like severe toothaches, facial swelling is a telltale sign of infection. As with a toothache, apply an ice pack to minimize pain and swelling before your emergency visit.

If necessary, the team may extract a damaged or decayed tooth at your emergency appointment. An extraction involves removing the entire crown and root portion of your tooth to prevent the spread of decay or infection.

To learn more about emergency dentistry, call the Iliff Family Dental office or schedule an appointment online today.