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When you experience a serious dental concern, you want help no matter the time or place. Emergency dentist in Mountain View Donian Shen, DDS is available if sudden pain, damage, and/or another complication occurs. We offer speedy treatment that can alleviate a variety of issues as quickly as possible. In addition to providing same day appointments, we can often suggest options over the phone that can help to ease symptoms immediately.
What to Do in a Dental Emergency
One of the first steps in managing a dental emergency is to determine whether it’s a true emergency or a situation you can address at home. Some of the most common issues that affect patients can be treated right away with items you have nearby, followed by an appointment with Dr. Shen when possible. When in doubt, it’s always best to contact our office for more information on the best approach for your situation.
How to Treat a Dental Concern at Home
Some concerns can be addressed from home. In other cases, you may be able to reduce pain or limit damage with a few simple steps before seeking professional assistance. Our friendly and knowledgeable team has outlined some of the initial steps you can take for the following common issues:
Chipped tooth: Try rinsing your mouth with warm water. You can also reduce swelling with cold compresses. A chipped tooth can generally be treated with a white filling or, in more severe cases, a root canal with a crown.
Bitten tongue or lip: Gently clean the cut and the surrounding area, and then use cold compresses to reduce any swelling. If bleeding or swelling persists, visit the nearest hospital immediately to have the wound looked at and possibly sutured.
Cracked/fractured tooth: A cracked tooth can sometimes feel like little more than a toothache, and other times this issue can be quite painful. Dr. Shen’s treatment will depend on the degree of cracking, and may include using a sandpaper disc or performing a composite restoration, bonding, root canal, or extraction.
Toothache: Try flossing gently to remove any food or debris that could be causing the discomfort. An over-the-counter painkiller can help ease soreness, and an ice pack may also provide some relief.
Tooth knocked out: Rinse the affected area, but be careful not to remove any tissue fragments attached to the tooth. If possible, insert the tooth back into the socket. If not, place the tooth in a glass of cold milk or wrap it in a clean cloth.
Lost filling: If a filling falls out, you can place a piece of softened, sugarless chewing gum into the hole that contained the filling. Contact us as soon as possible to have Dr. Shen replace the filling.
What Emergency Dental Services Do You Offer?
Once your situation is assessed, our dedicated team can help craft a restorative treatment plan to help bring your oral structures back into health and comfortable function. We offer an extensive range of emergency dental services to aid you in your time of need. Our dentists will speak with you about the best options for your needs and goals, and they may include one or more of the following options:
Dental Crowns
Used to strengthen and preserve the natural tooth after decay and damage or to top a dental implant, a dental crown is a natural-looking restoration that covers the affected tooth completely. Crowns are often utilized after a root canal or when significant damage occurs that cannot be fixed with a filling.
Implant Bridges
Implant bridges work very similarly to dental crowns and can be used to replace one or more missing teeth in a row; however, implants also offer improved preservation of the jawbone. In some cases, a dental bridge may be more appropriate to your needs.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are the recommended approach to replacing one or more missing teeth. Implants work just like natural teeth and help preserve jawbone density while providing a beautiful and sturdy outcome that requires little maintenance.
Root Canal Therapy
If decay or damage leads to an infection of the tooth root, you could experience significant pain. A root canal treats this issue by removing the infected tissue, filling the canal, and covering the remaining tooth in a dental crown.
Tooth Extractions
Only performed when necessary, tooth extractions may be required to relieve pain or bite misalignment, or to remove teeth before creating implant dentures or placing dental implants. Our dedicated team can extract teeth gently and safely.
Sedation Dentistry
Your comfort is a high priority, and we offer sedation dentistry techniques to help you remain calm, comfortable, and pain-free throughout your visit.
How to Prevent a Dental Emergency
Many dental emergencies occur as a result of “user error,” or when a patient makes a careless mistake. To help limit the possibility of a dental emergency happening, we recommend:
- Wearing a mouthguard when participating in sports and recreational activities—Many avoidable injuries happen in athletics or when skateboarding, biking, and playing in other ways without a mouthguard.
- Never using your teeth as tools—Teeth should not be used to open containers or cut items. Teeth should only be used for eating, so make sure you use scissors or a bottle opener to avoid chips, cracks, and other forms of damage.
- Practicing good oral care habits—The best way to avoid decay and tooth pain is to maintain excellent oral health. Brush twice daily, floss once daily, and visit your dentist as recommended for routine checkups.
For more information about emergency treatment, please visit our website dedicated to our emergency dentistry services mountainviewemergencydentist.com or contact our office. Our friendly and knowledgeable team is happy to answer questions and to help you schedule a free consultation with Dr. Shen.*