Emergency Dentistry
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Southern California General & Cosmetic Dentistry
Ryan J. Fait, DDS
General & Cosmetic Dentist located in Long Beach, CA & Avalon, CA
Dental emergencies almost never happen at a convenient time. They can be frightening, painful, and often require immediate care. Dr. Ryan J. Fait and the caring team of professionals of Southern California General & Cosmetic Dentistry in Long Beach and Avalon, California understand and are there to help. The best chance of restoring or saving teeth that have fallen out or suffered injury is to contact the dedicated and experienced team at Southern California General & Cosmetic Dentistry as soon as possible. Call Dr. Fait’s office as soon as you realize you need emergency dentistry services.
Emergency Dentistry Q & A
What conditions are treated with emergency dentistry?
When a tooth is knocked completely out of your mouth, it is essential to call Dr. Fait’s office immediately. Frequently, when a tooth is knocked out, your nerves, gums, and blood vessels are damaged, too. The sooner Dr. Fait replaces your tooth back into its socket, the greater the chance that it will grow back naturally.
Dr. Fait recommends rinsing your tooth under warm water without touching the root and placing it carefully back into its socket. Alternately, you can keep the tooth in your cheek, or in a cup of milk, saliva, or water to keep it from drying out before it can be replaced.
A lost filling or crown may also require emergency dentistry. It’s common to lose a crown or filling while you’re eating. When this happens, your tooth may be extremely sensitive to heat, cold, or pressure from chewing.
Cracked or broken teeth are sometimes a result of biting into something hard or trauma of some kind to your teeth. This kind of injury can be quite painful, especially if your tooth fractures down to the root. Call Dr. Fait’s office immediately, and rinse the tooth with warm water.
In any of these emergency situations, apply gauze to reduce any bleeding in your mouth, and hold a cold, wet towel against your cheek or lips to help minimize pain and swelling.
When should I call an emergency dentist?
Sports injuries, accidents, and falls can result in chipped, cracked, and knocked out teeth. Anytime you or a family member experiences a dental trauma or emergency, it is best to contact the specialized team at Southern California General & Cosmetic Dentistry for further instruction and evaluation.
Calling a dental professional for assistance may help you avoid an unnecessary trip to the emergency room, where they would refer you to a dentist instead. If your tooth is knocked out, handle it as little as possible, and try to keep it in your mouth without swallowing it.
Can some conditions wait to be treated?
Conditions that are not as clearly defined as a dental emergency may still cause intense tooth or mouth pain. Abscesses or severe toothaches may indicate a more serious problem, and as with other emergency dentistry conditions, it’s best to contact Dr. Fait’s office to let a professional determine how soon you need to be treated.
