EMERGENCY DENTISTRY – NEW BRAUNFELS, TX
FINDING QUICK SOLUTIONS FOR ORAL PAIN
Persistent toothaches, lost teeth, and other forms of oral pain and dental damage are alarming enough on their own, and they have the potential to become much worse if you don’t seek care in a timely manner. When the worst happens, your first move should always be to call us to arrange an emergency appointment with Dr. Albrecht. We’ll make time for your visit as soon as possible – ideally on the same day whenever possible.
HOW TO HANDLE COMMON DENTAL EMERGENCIES
With our wide array of restorations and other dental treatments, we’re well-equipped to deal with many dental issues. But what about you? Are you sufficiently prepared to keep your teeth and gums safe in case of an emergency? When every second counts, it’s important that you know how to take care of your mouth until you can be seen by a professional. Make sure that you always keep these tips for dealing with common dental emergencies in mind.
Toothaches
Pain in your tooth is often a sign of an infection that will require a root canal. Take ibuprofen or another type of pain medication if you need to, but avoid aspirin since it could leave a burn on the gums. Try flossing around the tooth that hurts; the issue might be linked to a piece of food that got stuck.
Chipped/ Broken Tooth
Focus on protecting the area and preventing further damage; if the tooth breaks too much, it might have to be extracted instead of being repaired. Use a piece of gauze to stop any bleeding that’s occurring, and cover any sharp edges with a piece of dental wax or some sugarless chewing gum.
Knocked-Out Tooth
Pick the tooth up by its crown and rinse off any dirt. Avoid damaging the root; you don’t want to kill any of the cells still living on it. Put the tooth back in its socket if possible. Otherwise, you can keep it in a glass of milk. There’s a very short period of time in which a replantation can be attempted, so get to our office immediately.
Lost Filling/ Crown
Take the restoration out of your mouth. It’s not dangerous to swallow, but we might be able to repair and/or reattach it. Clove oil can help relieve any sensitivity you might feel, and dental wax can be used to protect the area from infection until you can be seen.
HOW TO PREVENT DENTAL EMERGENCIES
There are different kinds of dental emergencies, but you can reduce your risk of suffering from serious dental problems by taking basic precautions such as:
- Not using your teeth to bite or chew hard foods such as popcorn kernels.
- Dropping bad habits like chewing your fingernails.
- Getting a mouthguard to play sports or to prevent the damage of grinding your teeth at night.
- Brushing at least twice a day and flossing on a regular basis.
THE COST OF TREATING DENTAL EMERGENCIES
It can be hard to know how much you’ll end up paying for emergency dental care. A simple filling for a decayed or damaged tooth won’t cost the same as root canal therapy or a crown. Our goal is to keep your personal costs to a minimum while preserving your overall dental health. After an initial examination, we can form an estimate for your treatment and help you start figuring out ways to cover the cost, such as through dental insurance or third-party financing.