No matter how well you care for your teeth, life is unpredictable. Accidents can happen, slips and falls can occur, things can go wrong. A dental emergency can happen to anyone, but knowing how to respond in such a situation can make all the difference.
First, contact Jeffrey A Lowry DDS in Riverside, California at 951-263-7001 as soon as possible. We will get you into Dr. Jeffrey Lowry as soon as possible. In the meantime, there are steps you can take to mitigate the problem.
For a lost tooth, you will need to rinse it off and try to put it back in the socket. Do not handle the tooth by the roots, but rinse it off with cool water. If possible, place it back in the socket and bite down on it gently through a piece of gauze. If you cannot put the tooth back in the socket, place it in milk, a tooth preserving solution, or between your cheek and gum until you can get to the dentist. For the best results, you should see a dentist in the first 30 minutes, although there is a window of viability of about two hours.
If you sustain a broken tooth, rinse it with warm water and use a cold compress to reduce any swelling, and contact our office.
In the case of a toothache, rinse your mouth, with warm water. Gently flossing around the tooth may remove any stuck particles. An over-the counter pain medication may help, but do not apply aspirin to the tooth or your gums.
A lost filling or crown can be held in place with dental cement, and temporary fillings and cotton pellets are available in many stores.
If a wire breaks on your braces, do not cut it off, but push it into a position that won’t irritate your mouth and cover the end with dental wax.
If you are experiencing a dental emergency, it is time for your regular cleaning, or you are looking for a family dentist, contact our office at 951-263-7001. We look forward to seeing you soon!