Call Us for Your Dental Emergency

Dental emergencies happen, and they can be painful and scary. If you have a dental emergency on your hands, call Dores Dental’s Longmeadow, MA office at (413) 241-3995. We will have you come in to the office (generally the same day), give you a diagnosis, and treat the emergency as efficiently as possible.

How Do I Know If It’s an Emergency?

In most cases, you’ll know. A tooth is knocked out. You are in excruciating pain. You’ve broken off part of the tooth. If you are not sure, call our office and we will discuss your particular situation and advise you on next steps. If you do have a dental emergency on your hands, there are things you can do to ensure your treatment goes as smoothly as possible.

 

• Lost Tooth: If your healthy tooth was knocked out without being broken or fractured in any way, it’s very likely we will be able to save it. Call us immediately at (413) 241-3995 so we can find a time to fit you in right away. Touch the tooth as little as possible, and try to return it to the socket. Be very careful to not swallow it. If the tooth won’t stay put, keep it in a glass of milk until your appointment — do not remove any attached tissue. If your mouth is bleeding, you can put pressure on the spot with a piece of gauze or a tea bag. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can reduce pain.

 

 

• Fractured or Broken Tooth: Gather up any pieces from a broken tooth and bring them with you to your appointment. Cracked teeth also require an emergency visit. Even if the tooth appears fine, it’s likely that the inside of the tooth has sustained damage. After the break or crack occurs, rinse out your mouth with warm water. If you have facial swelling, try to bring it down with a cold compress. Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain relief. And call us at (413) 241-3995 to make an immediate appointment.

 

 

• Unexplained or Sudden Pain: Toothaches can be caused by any number of factors. The culprit could be an unseen crack, a cavity, an abscess, or an infection. Call Dores Dental at (413) 241-3995 to make an emergency appointment if you are experiencing any sort of severe or sudden-onset pain. Even if the pain seems bearable, you should call us anyway and we will help you decide if a visit is warranted. In the meantime, you can rinse your mouth with warm water, and gently floss the area to remove any food stuck between the teeth. If you’d like, take acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help lessen pain.

 

 

• Things That May Not be Emergencies: Other dental issues may not require an emergency appointment, but they do need to be taken care of sooner rather than later. If a temporary crown falls off, it can be put back on with petroleum jelly, toothpaste, or a dab of denture adhesive until you see us (which should be within a few days). Very minor chips or surface cracks also do not require an immediate appointment, though at some point they may need a bit of polishing or filling.

 

How Do I Keep an Emergency from Occurring?

Accidents happen. And you may not be able to prevent every dental emergency. But you can minimize your risk by following good oral care practices and making an effort to protect your teeth.

• Wear a mouthguard when participating in sports and activities. This is especially important for contact sports, but holds true for any activity that may result in injury to the face. At Dores Dental, we will make a custom mouthguard for you or anyone in your family who needs one. Our guards are designed to the dimensions of your mouth and are better and more comfortable than their pre-made counterparts.
• Do not crunch down on hard foods like ice, unpopped popcorn kernels, and hard candy. This may crack your teeth!
• We understand it can be tough to walk to the next room to grab a pair of scissors. But is it really worth opening that package with your teeth — and ending up at the dentist for an emergency visit?
• Practice good oral hygiene. Take care of your mouth by brushing and flossing daily, and your teeth and gums will be stronger, healthier, and less susceptible to decay and infection.

At Dores Dental of Longmeadow, MA, we take dental emergencies seriously. Give us a call at (413) 241-3995 and we will fit you in as soon as we can.