Should you ever need help with a dental emergency, our experienced dental team at Shirer Family Dentistry is here to help. We know how scary having a sudden dental trauma can be, and Drs. Michael and Susannah Shirer are here to help if you or your family member are faced with an unforeseen injury. Even if the event involves a damaged oral appliance, our team can take care of you with our same-day emergency services (we are open Fridays so you can rest assured you are in good hands throughout the week).
There are plenty of things that can go wrong when it comes to your oral health, such as having a cracked, fractured, chipped or broken tooth, having a knocked out tooth or even a partially knocked-out tooth. You might have a painful toothache that isn’t getting better or sustain an injury to the soft oral tissues like your tongue, gums, cheeks, or lips. These are all instances that you shouldn’t ignore because you might end up with permanent damage and need more invasive and costly treatment down the road.
Tips to Help You While You Wait to Be Seen by Our Dentist
-For a toothache, you can rinse your mouth with warm water and keep a cold compress on the outside of the mouth for 15-20 minutes (and off for two hours) near the affected area. Repeat as necessary.
-If a tooth is chipped or broken, you can rinse your mouth with warm water and place gauze on the area to stop the bleeding. A cold compress (see above) on the outside of the mouth can also help with pain. Be sure to save the broken pieces for our dentist.
-If you are waiting to be seen for a partially knocked-out tooth, you can use a cold compress on the outside of the affected area and take an over-the-counter pain reliever.
-If a tooth is knocked out, rinse it gently with water, holding it by the white part of the tooth, not the roots. You can put it into the socket carefully if you are coming in right away, or you can put it in a cup of water with salt or milk. There are also over-the-counter pain tooth saving products you can safeguard it in.
-For an injury to soft oral tissues, you want to stop the bleeding. Begin by rinsing with some saltwater. Then, apply a damp piece of gauze or tea bag onto the site for 15-20 minutes to stop the bleeding. You can also hold a cold compress outside on the mouth or cheek for 5-10 minutes. See our dentist or visit the emergency room if the bleeding doesn’t stop.
The main thing to remember is to remain calm, call our office as soon as possible, and follow any directions we give you until you come in. For a dental emergency, please call our team at 803-648-6400 right away so we can get you taken care of. If you have sustained trauma to your neck or head, please contact your family doctor or visit an emergency room before seeing our dentist.