Dental Emergency? Here’s What to Do

Dental emergencies are scary and sometimes painful. Are you unsure what constitutes a dental emergency?  Not sure where to turn when you have a dental injury? Mesa Street Dental is here for you during dental emergencies. We have convenient hours to better serve you and we are open even during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Follow the guidelines below for dental emergencies.

Tooth Knocked Out

Having your tooth knocked out is a dental emergency. Acting quickly in this situation can increase your chances of saving the tooth. If your tooth has been knocked out, here is what you should do:

  • First, stay calm! Mesa Street Dental is here to help.
  • Contact your dentist immediately.
  • Rinse the knocked-out tooth in water.
  • Keep the knocked-out tooth in its socket.
  • Not possible to keep the tooth in its socket? Soak the tooth in milk.

Mesa Street Dental will assess your tooth and the socket it was removed from to determine if we can save the tooth. If your tooth cannot be saved, a dental implantbridge, or partial dentures will be used in place of the missing tooth. Your smile will look great with and no one will be able to tell that the implant crown, bridge, or dentures aren’t your real tooth.

Chipped or Cracked Tooth

Chipped and cracked teeth are a very common dental emergency. Biting into a hard piece of food is the most common cause of a chipped or cracked tooth. Small chips and cracks can be fixed with a tooth filling. If the chip or crack is large, tooth crowns are another way to fix this injury and preserve the weakened structure. Oftentimes when you chip or crack a tooth you don’t need to see the dentist immediately. Just be mindful of not chewing on the cracked or chipped tooth until you can get seen by a dentist.

Abscessed Tooth

An abscessed tooth is not only painful but can be very harmful to the health of your mouth and the entire body. An abscess is when a pocket of pus in the tooth leads to infection. Abscesses can cause fever, tooth and mouth pain, and swelling in the face. Abscessed teeth are a definite dental emergency. When you begin to have severe pain in your mouth, you should contact a dentist immediately. Do not wait as the condition can worsen.

Missing Crown or Filling

Do you have a crown or a filling that fell out? This can be a dental emergency as well. Food can get into the hole and cause infection. It is important to try to get into your dentist as soon as possible. Try to put the crown back on the tooth if possible. Ensure you rinse your mouth often to prevent food particles from getting lodged into the area where the crown or filling is missing.

See Our Dentist in El Paso, TX for Dental Emergencies

If you encounter a dental emergency, our dentist in El Paso, TX is here for you! Follow the steps above then contact Mesa Street Dental immediately. We are here to assist you with all your dental needs.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Dr. Sean Harrell, DDS

Dr. Sean Harrell has been practicing dentistry for 12 years and is the proud owner of Mesa Street Dental! He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 2013 from the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine. He is a proud member of the Texas Dental Association, the American Dental Association, the SPEAR Institute, and the El Paso District Dental Society.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Dr. Sean Harrell, DDS

Dr. Sean Harrell has been practicing dentistry for 12 years and is the proud owner of Mesa Street Dental! He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 2013 from the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine. He is a proud member of the Texas Dental Association, the American Dental Association, the SPEAR Institute, and the El Paso District Dental Society.

Frequently Asked Questions

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