Emergency Dental Services for the Cincinnati Area

“Is This a Dental Emergency?”

What to Do if You’ve Had a Dental Emergency in Cincinnati

Do you have a persistent toothache? Swelling around a tooth? Bleeding? You may have a dental emergency on your hands. The word “emergency” might seem alarmist, but since the teeth and the jaw are complex physical parts of the body that we rely on for important daily functions, a sudden and/or severe malfunction needs dealt with right away.

There are definitely more dental emergencies than we’ll discuss below. That said, one good rule to follow is that any tooth that is bleeding or causing severe pain should be considered to be a dental emergency. Similarly, loose, broken or missing teeth should be dealt with immediately.

You obviously can’t predict, and don’t plan for, a dental emergency, and we get it. That’s why we keep spaces open in our appointment book for urgent oral health issues. Here are some of the most common dental emergencies we encounter at our Cincinnati family dental practice:

A Tooth Got Knocked Out

A tooth that is knocked out is definitely a dental emergency that requires urgent attention. Once a tooth has been removed from its socket, your jaw starts deteriorating in that area. The longer you wait to have it fixed, the more risk to the health of your jaw. Follow these steps to ensure that we have the best chance of reinserting and preserving the tooth:

• Call our office immediately.

• Handle the tooth by the top.

• Avoid touching the roots.

• Rinse the tooth very gently.

• Don’t scrub the tooth or attempt to remove any tissue attached to it.

• Stick it in a Ziploc bag and bring it with you to your emergency appointment.

Tooth was Cracked or Fractured

Cracked or fractured teeth pose a serious dental issue requiring emergency treatment. A crack in your tooth can leave the dentin, or worse – pulp, vulnerable, which is a risk to your health and likely painful. Left untreated, cracked or fractured teeth can pose an even more serious dental emergency, like a jaw infection or tooth abscess. Call us immediately if you have this dental condition.

In the meantime, if you need to manage pain and cleanliness while waiting for your emergency dental appointment, there are a few at-home things you can do:

• Ibuprofen and other NSAIDS reduce inflammation and discomfort.
• Garlic, vanilla extract or clove oil placed on the tooth reduces pain and protects from bacteria.
• Swishing with warm saltwater can reduce pain and remove debris from the area.
• Swishing with hydrogen peroxide can sterilize the crack.
• Apply a cold compress on the outside of your cheek where the cracked tooth is, but only for 10 minutes at a time.

Chipped & Broken Teeth

A chipped tooth should be examined by a dentist as soon as possible. A chipped tooth can often easily be repaired by dental bonding, but still, it is a semi-urgent situation. However, a broken tooth might be an even more serious situation, especially if the root, nerve or pulp is exposed.

If the tooth is painful, then it is a dental emergency requiring immediate treatment. You can use the same methods for managing your toothache at home that we discussed above, and we’ll get you in to see one of our dentists as soon as possible.

A Filling Cracked, Broke or Fell Out

If your filling falls out and there’s no pain, it’s still a dental emergency. In fact, any cracked or broken filling is a reason to visit an emergency dentist. Your fillings are there for a reason: to protect the cavity where there was once tooth decay/infection. If your filling is compromised, that cavity is no longer protected, leaving it susceptible to bacteria and further decay. Not to mention that if that filling is a deep one, a crack or break will likely be painful. But even if your filling is damaged or missing and there isn’t any pain, get ahold of us immediately. It’s an easy fix; you’ll be in and out in no time.

A Tooth/Teeth are Suddenly Loose

A tooth that is suddenly out of alignment, or a non-baby tooth that becomes loose requires immediate treatment. This is not normal, and may belie an underlying issue that could cause real health problems for your other teeth, gums and jaw. Call our office for a dental emergency appointment. Avoid trying to forcibly move the tooth back into its position, as you may do more harm than good.

Teeth Trauma: Mouth Injuries

An injury inside the mouth, regardless of the cause, should be considered an emergency, and you should get to a hospital emergency room. Depending on the cause of the injury and the type of injury, it is best to contact the hospital emergency room for advice on what you should do before leaving for the emergency room.

The reason it’s sometimes better to go to your local ER in cases of injury to your face and mouth is because there might be other damage than just what you can feel and see. Let the doctors clear you first, then schedule an emergency dental appointment once you know the best step forward.

Facial Pain and/or Swelling with No Obvious Cause

Unexplained facial pain and swelling may be another dental emergency. Particularly if you’ve just had a procedure like a tooth extraction, implant crown installation or root canal, this can be a bright red flag for an infection or other complication that needs dealt with immediately.

Our staff can diagnose the cause of the pain and refer you to a specialist, if necessary. In the meantime, if you feel that you need to take medication for facial pain, never take aspirin or ibuprofen since these medications are anticoagulants, which can cause excess bleeding.

Have a Dental Emergency? Contact Beckham Square Family Dental Today!

We provide emergency dental services for patients all over the Cincinnati area, and you don’t have to be one of our regular patients in order to see us. Remember these three rules of thumb for deciding if your dental care needs are urgent:

1. Is the inner tooth or the nerve exposed?
2. Does it hurt?
3. Are you swollen or bleeding at the site?

There are certain symptoms that constitute a medical emergency and require you to visit the ER first: nausea, fever and/or vomiting. But if you don’t have any of these, an emergency dentist can help you fix the problem. If you believe that you have any kind of dental problem that is causing you immediate pain, then don’t hesitate to contact our office by calling 513.489.7800, or using our contact form.