Dental emergencies can be scary, but finding a Marlow dentist to handle your emergency doesn’t have to be. Dr. Matthew L. Bridges at Chisholm Trail Smile Center is a skilled emergency dentist serving Duncan, OK, and the surrounding area. Our experienced team provides urgent dental care during regular office hours so you can get back to your normal life quickly.
Not sure what necessitates urgent dental care? Let’s discuss common signs of a dental emergency and how to handle it.
Signs of a Dental Emergency
Trauma like a car accident or sports injury may require urgent dental care. In those cases, it is best to seek immediate medical attention at a nearby emergency room. Nonetheless, an emergency dentist should still be contacted as soon as possible following an injury to the mouth.
Dental emergencies do not always have to be the result of trauma. Indications of a dental emergency unaccompanied by an injury might include:
- Inflamed or bleeding gums. If you notice that your gums are red or bleeding, then these might be the early signs of gum disease. Treatment should be administered promptly to avoid infection or tooth loss.
- Loose teeth or teeth that fall out. Wiggly teeth in young children is normal; loose teeth in adults is not. If you have loose teeth or teeth that have fallen out, an emergency dentist will be able to pinpoint the issue and remediate the problem.
- A toothache or mouth pain. Oral pain can indicate something more serious, like a cracked tooth or an abscess. Regardless of the cause, aches and pains in the mouth need to be addressed immediately.
- Swollen face, jaw, or neck. Swelling can be the sign of an infected tooth, a cyst, or a tumor.
- A sore mouth or changes in tongue texture. Noticing persistent mouth soreness or new lumps and bumps on your tongue? These might be the signs of oral cancer, and you should contact an emergency dentist immediately.
- Extreme tooth sensitivity. Not only is tooth sensitivity annoying, but it could also mean that the nerves of the tooth are exposed. If this is the case, then emergency care is needed to protect the delicate nerves from injury or infection.
What To Do In The Case of an Emergency
The first thing to do in a dental emergency is to stay calm. Next, schedule an emergency dental visit. Until then, here are some ways to deal with common dental emergencies:
- A Loose tooth. Leave it alone! A dentist can stabilize the tooth at your visit, but leaving it alone will prevent the tooth from falling out.
- A tooth that’s been knocked out. If you can make it to a dentist quickly, then a knocked out tooth might be salvageable. Try to put the tooth gently back into the socket. If that’s not possible, then keep the tooth hydrated in either your mouth or a glass of milk.
- An abscessed tooth. Rinse your mouth with salt water. The salt water will temporarily relieve the pain while also keeping the area clean.
- A cracked or fractured tooth. Ice packs and over-the-counter pain medications will help with pain and swelling until you can see a dentist.
- A loose dental crown. A loose dental crown can fall off and accidentally be ingested. Take extra precautions while eating or brushing your teeth.
Marlow Dentist for Emergencies
Accidents happen to the best of us. If you’re in need of an emergency dentist, let Dr. Bridges and his attentive team take care of you. Call our office at (580)-255-4880 or contact us online.
