Emergency Dentistry

Emergency Dentistry in St. Port Lucie

Is there pain involved in emergency dentistry?

Pain is not always involved. However, the presence of pre-existing pain indicates that the tooth and/or its surrounding tissues need immediate attention.

What kind of treatment is involved in a dental emergency?

This depends on the type of pain involved. An experienced dentist will determine the cause and treat the issue. Some examples of dental emergencies are:

- Fungal/bacterial/viral infections.
- Fractured teeth or dental trauma sustained by a tooth, the oral cavity, face or surrounding bone. This occurs frequently in children aged 8 to 12. If left untreated, the prognosis worsens with time.
- The fracture of or dental restorations impacts how you eat, speak and appear. This problem must be treated quickly as a loss of the tooth or surrounding tissue may occur if left untreated.

All dental emergencies must be handled by a licensed dental professional.

What are some of the most common dental emergencies and how to handle them?

- Toothache: Start by calling your dentist. Explain how it started and your symptoms. You could take an over-the-counter pain medication to ease the pain. Avoid putting the pills on your tooth. Place an ice pack against your face near the sore tooth for immediate relief. Avoid applying heat as it will only worsen the pain.

- Broken or chipped tooth: Most broken teeth can be saved. Call your dentist immediately and explain the situation and request to be seen today. White filling might be used to fix it if it is a minor break. For serious breaks, a more extensive procedure may be needed. A crown may also be required to ensure oral well-being.

- Displaced or missing teeth: In adults, the dentist may try to put it back. If the tooth seems clean, try to put it back into the socket. Try to reach the dentist as soon as possible to try to have the best chance of saving the tooth.

- Badly bitten tongue or lip: If you're bleeding, apply pressure on the area by applying a clean cloth. Apply an ice pack to stop the bleeding if the lip swells. If the bleeding does not stop, visit your local ER immediately.

- Lost filling: Place a softened sugarless gum in the spot of the missing filling to avoid further damage or food getting stuck in the cavity. Visit the dentist to repairs the tooth as much as possible.

Don't ignore any kind of pain that develops in your teeth, gums or oral cavity. Contact Dr. Sid Bolling and we will try and accommodate you as soon as possible if you experience a dental emergency.