Routine dental care is a good start that protects your overall health. However, it can’t compensate for emergency care when something goes wrong. There are many tooth and gum issues that need immediate attention from a dentist. Trying to wait until your next routine appointment only increases the chances of serious side effects and secondary infections. Protect your smile by calling us for an emergency appointment whenever you encounter something painful that just can’t wait. Here’s a quick guide on knowing when you need emergency help and what to do while preparing for your appointment.

What Qualifies As a Dental Emergency?

Not every injury or toothache needs emergency care. If you’re not in serious pain or bleeding, you likely can wait at least until normal business hours to see a dentist. However, loose and knocked out teeth always need immediate attention. Loose wires and brackets when you’re wearing braces also deserve an emergency appointment. If you suspect you’ve broken a facial bone or have a loose piece of gum tissue that’s bleeding, call us for an emergency appointment. Severe tooth pain or a noticeably cracked tooth qualify as emergencies, while an abscess with swelling and a fever does as well. Finally, don’t put off an appointment if your crown or other dental restoration comes loose.

What’s Not Necessarily an Emergency

Less severe toothaches and abscesses can wait a few days in most cases until you can see us during normal business hours. Cracks and chips that aren’t causing a lot of pain also tend to hold over just fine without worsening, especially if you can take care or protect them with dental wax. Small cuts and sores inside the mouth often resolve on their own with routine tooth brushing and some rinsing with salt water. Some damage to braces won’t interfere with your ability to chew or speak, allowing you to wait at least a day or two for repairs. A quick call to our emergency dental help line can help you determine what’s best treated immediately and what can wait.

Finding Dental Care on Weekends and Holidays

Pain or fever from an abscess can ruin your ability to enjoy a holiday gathering or relax over the weekend. When you need relief while most dentists’ offices aren’t open, you need an emergency appointment. Our emergency clinic operates when other offices are closed so you know where to turn no matter what happens. Keep our phone number and after-hour details on hand so there’s no question of what to do in case of an accident. You’ll feel a lot less stressed knowing who to call for help if you have fall and develop a cracked or loose tooth.

Why It Matters Who Handles Your Dental Emergency

You don’t just want a dentist who provides after-hours care, but one who also specializes in emergency treatments. This is especially important for complex care in cases of badly cracked or completely loose teeth. You’ll have the best chances of keeping your natural tooth by seeking out a dentist with extra training in this kind of treatment. Even for relatively simple issues of infection or bleeding, you want to know you're in the best hands. We keep up with all the latest continuing education regarding emergency dental care so we can give our patients only the best.

How to Prepare for Dental Emergencies

Keep a small kit of dental supplies on hand to be prepared for any kind of dental emergency. First, store our contact information where you can reach it even without Internet or phone access. Use dental devices like night guards and sports guards to prevent routine damage. Set up a dental first aid kit with some over-the-counter pain killers, gauze, and a small lidded container to hold a tooth if it comes out. You may also want to set aside some ice packs or heat packs for recovery after your emergency is treated by the dentist.

What to Do When an Emergency Happens

When an accident occurs or an abscess pops up overnight, don’t panic. Call our emergency line and schedule an appointment. If you’re bleeding, use some sterile gauze and apply pressure to the cut or opening. Try to retrieve any missing teeth or teeth fragments and place them in clean water in a closed container to bring to the office. The dentist can advise you on dealing with pain or swelling while you’re on the way to your appointment.

Choose Clio Dental Studio when a dental emergency strikes. We provide care outside of our normal hours to resolve pain and bleeding so you can get back to your normal routine. Don't forget to schedule your routine dental care with us as well to ensure you have as few dental emergencies as possible.