What Constitutes a Dental Emergency?
Dental emergencies can strike when least expected, often causing pain and distress. Dr. McGuire and our team at Great Lakes Dentures and Implants are pleased to offer emergency dental services, ensuring you and your loved ones are cared for at the highest level. The question is, what constitutes a dental emergency?
What Constitutes a Dental Emergency?
A dental emergency is a situation requiring urgent dental care to relieve severe pain, save a tooth, treat an infection, or stop bleeding. Some dental problems can wait until the next day, like losing a filling or having a mild toothache.
If you experience a dental emergency, call us at 269-888-6686 for guidance. We will evaluate your situation and have you come in to see us right away if needed. We will also provide you with tips to stabilize your condition before your appointment. If a dental emergency occurs outside of our regular hours, please call our office for guidance.
Note: In the event of a life-threatening emergency, please call 911 for immediate care.
What Are Common Dental Emergencies?
The most common dental emergencies we see at Great Lakes Dentures and Implants include the following:
Severe Tooth Pain: One of the most obvious signs of a dental emergency is severe tooth pain. If you experience intense, persistent pain, it may be due to an infection, abscess, or dental injury. Rinse your mouth with warm water, floss to make sure there is no lodged food causing the pain, and contact our office for an emergency appointment.
An Abscess: An abscess indicates an infection requiring immediate care. Depending on your unique needs, we may recommend a root canal treatment or may even have to extract the affected tooth. Without prompt treatment, an abscess can pose a risk to your health, so if you have a painful tooth accompanied by a pimple-like bump on your gums, contact our office right away.
A Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth: We do not attempt to reimplant knocked-out baby teeth to avoid damage to the incoming permanent teeth. If, however, you knock out a permanent tooth, time is of the essence. Treatment within an hour of injury provides the best chance of saving the tooth. Pick up the affected tooth by the crown, rinse it gently with water if it’s dirty, and try to reinsert it in its socket. If that’s not possible, store it in some milk to keep it moist and bring it to your emergency appointment.
A Loose Tooth or Dislodged Tooth: Bite down on a piece of clean gauze to keep the tooth in place. Use cold compresses to relieve any pain or discomfort. Contact our office for assistance.
A Fractured, Broken, or Chipped Tooth: Rinse with warm water and apply cold compresses to manage any pain or swelling. Collect any broken teeth pieces, if any, and bring them with you to your emergency appointment.
Lost Crown or Filling: Use dental cement or a denture adhesive to keep your crown or filling in place. Never use super glue or a non-dental specific adhesive to attach your restoration. Contact us for an appointment, and we will get you taken care of as soon as possible.
Bleeding: Place gentle pressure with a clean gauze to help stop the bleeding. If you have uncontrollable bleeding, head to your nearest emergency room for immediate care.
Emergency Dentistry Near Me in Plainwell, MI
At Great Lakes Dentures and Implants, we understand how stressful dental emergencies can be. Dr. McGuire and his team are committed to providing you with the best possible care to ensure your time with us is as comfortable as possible. If you experience a dental emergency, call us at 269-888-6686 right away!