Dentist – Grand Rapids, MN

How to Handle Common Dental Emergencies

Handling a dental emergency can be difficult due to the shock of the situation and discomfort you may be feeling. The first step you should always take is to call our office so we can plan to see you. We’ll provide you with some tips to help minimize damage to your smile and make sure you feel more comfortable until you reach our office. Below, we’ve also provided some advice on what to do to help you prepare for your visit, based on what type of emergency that you have.

Toothaches

Toothaches are often a sign of an infection hidden beneath the surface of your tooth. To ease your pain, you can take an over-the-counter pain medication like ibuprofen. You can also reduce any swelling and discomfort by placing an ice pack on your jaw for 10 minutes at a time, for up to an hour.

Chipped/Broken Tooth

If you’re able to find the broken-off portion of your tooth, retrieve it and rinse it off with water. Be sure to bring it to your appointment with you. If the damage has created a jagged edge on your tooth, you can place a piece of orthodontic wax over the area to keep it from poking and irritating the inside of your cheek and lip.

Knocked-Out Tooth

Time is of the essence, so quickly retrieve your tooth (being sure to only handle it by the biting surface) and rinse it under a cool stream of water. To keep the roots of the tooth viable, you’ll need to place it in a sealable container of milk or salt water. Be sure to bring the container to your appointment.

Lost Filling/Crown

If you can find your lost restoration, you can rinse it off and temporarily place it back on your tooth using a dab of toothpaste or denture adhesive. However, keep in mind that this isn’t a permanent solution, and in order to avoid an infection, you’ll need to have the restoration professionally repaired or replaced.

Head/Neck/Jaw Pain

If you’re experiencing chronic head and neck pain, lockjaw, or your jaw joints always feel sore, you may have a condition known as TMJ dysfunction. We can help provide you with lasting pain by customizing occlusal splints, which are mouthguards that help set your jaw into its proper alignment as you sleep, relieving soreness and tension.

Learn More About TMJ/TMD Therapy

How to Prevent Dental Emergencies

While there’s no way to completely avoid a dental emergency, there are several ways that you can reduce your risk of experiencing one, including:

• Practice good oral hygiene by brushing twice each day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing daily.
• Stay hydrated with water.
• Quit bad oral habits like smoking.
• Avoid chewing excessively sticky or chewy foods.
• See a dentist near you every six months for a checkup and cleaning.
• Never put off visiting the dentist if you notice any oral discomfort.

The Cost of Treating Dental Emergencies

Each patient comes to us seeking emergency dental care for different situations, which is why there’s no singular cost for emergency visits. During your examination, we’ll take X-rays, if necessary, and conduct a thorough visual examination to diagnose the issue at-hand. Once we do, we’ll put together a treatment plan and walk you through it in detail, including pricing for any procedures you may need. If you have any questions about your dental insurance coverage, our in-house membership plan, or any other payment methods, please don’t hesitate to ask us!

Root Canal Therapy

Root canal therapy is a notoriously misunderstood dental treatment. We often recommend this procedure for patients who have severe infection that’s causing them to have a toothache. Before the treatment even begins, we’ll administer a local anesthetic to the area to make sure that you don’t feel an ounce of pain. We’ll then remove the infected pulp of the tooth that’s causing your toothache and rebuild the structure of the treated tooth using a putty-like substance called gutta percha. Finally, we’ll top your tooth off with a customized crown for added protection and support, allowing you to continue using it as you normally would without experiencing discomfort.

Learn More About Root Canal Therapy

Tooth Extractions

We understand that there’s no substitution quite like your natural teeth, which is why we only recommend extracting a tooth if it’s absolutely necessary to preserve your smile. Typically, we only recommend a tooth extraction when a tooth has experienced severe dental decay, is broken or seriously damaged, or is impacted below the gums. Dr. Spencer Buchert has  advanced oral surgery training to conduct most tooth extractions  from the comfort of our own office, so you won’t have to worry about travelling across town to another dental specialist.

Learn More About Oral Surgery