Emergency Dentist in Santa Clara, CA

Dental emergencies are usually toothaches or accidents that involve the teeth or mouth, bleeding, swelling, and infections. Whenever there is a dental emergency, it is better to seek Dr. Lee to save the tooth or teeth and to prevent infections from occurring or becoming more serious.

What Are the Common Dental Emergencies Reported?

The common dental emergencies that are usually reported are as follows:

Abscessed Tooth

An abscessed tooth infection is caused by bacteria entering your tooth through a cavity and reaching the root canal. Left untreated, this can lead to an abscess developing outside of your gums. This can cause swelling in your face and neck and be very painful. If you notice that one of your teeth is suddenly sensitive to hot and cold and hurts when you touch it or chew on it, you may have an abscessed tooth. It’s important to see a dentist as soon as possible for treatment.

Broken Tooth

A broken tooth can be painful. If it’s a front tooth, it can make it difficult to eat and speak normally. If it’s your back teeth, you may experience a lot of pain when chewing food because it’s closer to the nerves in your tooth. You may also feel pain or discomfort from air getting between the spaces of your molars. If you suspect that one of your back teeth is broken, it’s important to have it checked out by your dentist right away to avoid further complications.

Jaw Injury

Your jaw can also be injured in an accident. It may fracture due to whiplash in a car accident, biting down on something hard like a piece of ice, or a sports injury. Your dentist may be able to treat your jaw with medication, but in some extreme cases, surgery may be required.

Damaged or Loose Fillings

While fillings are designed to last a long time, they can still break or become loose over time. If this happens to you, your dentist can fit you for a new filling so you can have your tooth back in its original shape.

If you don’t get a filling replaced in a timely manner, it could lead to further damage to your teeth or even an infection in your mouth. Infection may not cause pain right away, but it can lead to serious problems if left untreated. And if you end up needing more extensive work done to fix your damaged tooth, it could end up costing more than getting a filling in the first place!

Chipped or Cracked Teeth

A chipped tooth, a crack in a tooth, or even a lost filling can seem like an emergency to a patient. While these problems aren’t as immediately threatening as a broken jaw or severe infection, they are unsightly and uncomfortable for many patients. Luckily, there are treatments that can repair these minor issues!

How Can You Prepare For a Dental Emergency?

Dental emergencies can happen when least expected. While you may not be able to prevent accidents, you can plan ahead for possible issues. Here are several ways to prepare for a dental emergency:

• Keep an emergency kit in your car or bag to help you manage pain until you get to the dentist’s office. This should include medication such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, as well as gauze to help control bleeding until you can get professional assistance.
• If you play sports, be sure to wear the appropriate protective gear to prevent injuries to your teeth. This includes a mouthguard to wear during practices and games. Mouthguards not only protect your smile from traumatic injury, but they also help cushion teeth against damage that is caused by the clenching required in contact sports.
• Avoid chewing on hard non-food items that could crack or chip your teeth. For example, don’t chew ice or pens. If you love to chew on ice, try drinking beverages like water or tea without ice to decrease the urge.
• Try to schedule regular cleanings and checkups with your dentist so any issues can be spotted early and treated before they become serious. Your dentist can also recommend other preventive treatments that can protect your smile from potential damage in the future.

What Are the Home Remedies for Dental Emergencies, Until You Seek a Dentist?

For knocked-out tooth:

• If the tooth is not broken, then place it back in the place.
• But if it is broken, try holding it between gums and cheek or place it in a cold glass of milk.
• For swollen face:
• Apply ice to the swollen part of the face.
• Just seek dental treatment as soon as possible.

For an abscess:

• Do not pop an abscess.
• It won’t heal itself, so it would be better to visit the dentist.
• For cracked, fractured and chipped teeth:
• If the chip or fracture is very little, and there isn’t any soft tissue trauma or pain, then don’t panic. A dentist can fix it.
• But if the chip, fracture, or crack is severe, then get it treated as soon as possible.

To make jaw pain less severe for a little while:

• Apply a cold compress.
• Take anti-inflammatory medications suggested by a dentist.
• For bitten lips or cheeks
• Treat it, with a warm, saltwater mouth that promotes healing
• If there’s an infection occurring in the affected area, go to the dentist.

Call us at (408) 988-7788 or schedule an online appointment with Dr. Lee for a consultation at our office in Santa Clara, CA.