Do you know what to do in a dental emergency? Be sure to contact your Montrose dentist at Tamborello & Bowen Cosmetic Dentistry right away. A trained staff member will tell you the right course of action and schedule a same-day appointment when required. Your comfort and oral health are as important to this dental team as they are to you.
What is a Real Dental Emergency?
If you are ever in doubt about the condition of your teeth and gums, don’t hesitate to contact Tamborello & Bowen Cosmetic Dentistry right away. Dental emergencies come in many forms, including:
- A throbbing toothache and/or drainage from serious tooth decay or abscess (infection)
- Jaw or gum swelling
- Extreme tooth sensitivity from a cavity or lost filling or crown
- Broken denture or bridgework
- Serious bleeding from a laceration to the lips, tongue, or gums
- Broken tooth
- Knocked out tooth
What to do Before Seeing the Emergency Dentist in Montrose
In addition to phoning your emergency dentist, implement proper first aid measures to stabilize the issue until the dentist sees you. These actions can save you pain and protect against further damage.
For instance, if you receive a hard blow to the face and suspect a broken or dislocated jaw or have bleeding that does not stop within 15 minutes, go to the nearest hospital emergency room. If a sudden impact causes you lose a tooth, wash any debris off the tooth, and place it back into the empty socket. Hold it in place while traveling to the dental office. If you cannot, put the tooth between your cheek and gum, or in a plastic container or sandwich bag with milk or over the counter tooth preservative. Bring it to Dr. Bowen or Dr. Tamborello.
Amazingly, the American Association of Endodontists says most avulsed teeth may be reimplanted if treated within one hour of injury. Also, the emergency dentist restores fractured or chipped teeth with crowns, porcelain veneers or composite resin bonding. The dentists tell patients to bring tooth fragments to the office for repair.
For painful abscesses, take over the counter ibuprofen to reduce pain. A cold compress, 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off, controls swelling. Many dental abscesses respond well to root canal therapy, which removes diseased inner pulp and crowns the tooth.
Protect Your Teeth, Gums and Bone Structure
Be proactive to avoid dental injury. Wear a mouthguard during sports. Don’t bite into hard items such as ice cubes or pencil tops. Avoid peanut brittle and other tough foods. Call the office at the first sign of a problem. Don’t wait until you are in extreme pain.
Also, practice diligent dental hygiene. Brush twice a day, and floss daily. Visit Tamborello & Bowen Cosmetic Dentistry for an exam and professional cleaning every six months. The dentist can diagnose and treat dental problems before they become painful, complicated and costly.
Please Don’t Wait
Contact Tamborello & Bowen Cosmetic Dentistry immediately with urgent dental issues. These top-rated Houston area dentists will return you to full oral health as quickly as possible.