Dental emergencies can happen at any time. At Affordable Dental Care in Tumwater, Washington, we offer residents and surrounding areas affordable emergency dental solutions. Keep reading below to learn more about the circumstances that you may need an emergency dentist.
Broken Tooth: If you have a broken tooth or crown, call our emergency dentist office right away to schedule an emergency dental appointment. There are many ways that patients can damage their teeth. Many believe that eating something hard is usually the culprit. Yet, this is not always true. Often teeth are weakened by decay, making them more likely to break on something soft.
One way to restore a broken tooth is to use dental bonding or a dental crown. Dental bonding uses a composite resin that can replace the missing part of your tooth to look natural. A dental crown is a cap that can fit over the top of your tooth. A dental crown will also make your tooth appear natural. Lastly, a dental veneer is a shell that fits on the front part of the tooth.
Knocked-out Tooth: Many younger patients break one or more teeth or lose an entire tooth during a sports injury. Do not panic if you lose a tooth during a sports injury, car accident, or another incident. There is a chance that your dentist may be able to reattach your tooth. After you lose a tooth, the first thing you should do is find it. If you find it, place it in a milk bag and do not clean it off. It may be tempting to clean it, but doing so could ruin the essential structures of the tooth. Next, call Affordable Dental Care in Tumwater, Washington, and tell them that you are coming for an emergency dental appointment. We will prepare for your arrival to have the best chance of saving your tooth.
If you cannot place your tooth back into the socket, your emergency dentist may recommend a dental implant. This restorative option replaces your entire tooth from the root to the crown.
Toothache: A toothache is another example of a dental emergency. There are several reasons why you may have a toothache. The best thing to do first is to clean around the tooth. Food stuck between teeth can cause toothache. Call our office if the pain does not subside after cleaning the tooth.
A toothache could be a sign of decay that has formed in your tooth. The decay could have eaten away at the top two layers of your teeth, exposing the middle layer of nerves and blood vessels. Depending on your situation, your dentist may recommend a root canal. A root canal will clean decay out of the inside of the tooth and replace it with solid material.
How to Prevent Dental Emergencies
As with many things in dentistry, the best tool is prevention. There are a few tools and techniques you can use to prevent dental emergencies. First, wear a mouth guard when playing contact sports. A mouth guard will help protect your teeth if you get hit in the head. Next, take good care of your teeth. The better you care for your teeth, the stronger they will be and the less likely it will be that you damage them. Good care for your teeth means good oral hygiene. Good oral hygiene begins with brushing, flossing, and mouthwash twice a day. Caring for your smile can help remove plaque and bacteria that can build up and form decay. This decay can eventually weaken your teeth, making them more susceptible to breaking or toothaches.
Dental emergencies can be a scary time. At Affordable Dental Care in Tumwater, Washington, we are here to help. Call our office right away if you have a dental emergency near Tumwater, Washington.