Oral surgery isn’t always the result of a dental emergency, but dental emergencies often require oral surgery if left untreated. A dental emergency involves an injury, infection, or other ailments that require immediate dental treatment. It often involves severe pain. The initial stage of a dental emergency does not always bring pain. But the pain will come if you don’t treat it immediately. Visiting your dentist regularly will help you avoid needing common types of oral surgery. If you experience any of these conditions, you need to see a dentist right away:
- Dental cavity
- Cracked tooth
- Abscess
- Toothache
- Loss of a permanent tooth
- Any kind of jaw or mouth trauma
Dental emergencies can be caused by accidents, sports injuries, biting into hard foods, and skipping your 6-month dental cleaning. These are a few of the most common dental emergencies we see at Sacramento Surgical Arts (and what to do if you experience them).
Dislodged Tooth
If your tooth is knocked out of your mouth, avoid touching the root of the tooth. Rinse the tooth under the faucet to remove dirt. Then try to place the tooth in its socket. If your tooth fits in its socket, use a wet paper towel or gauze to hold the tooth in place. Be careful not to swallow the tooth. If the tooth will not fit (or stay) in its socket, place the tooth in a container of milk or saliva (your own). This helps prevent the tooth from drying out while you’re on your way to the dentist. If you’re located near the Sacramento, California, area, give us a call at 866.930.5837
Cracked Tooth
For a cracked tooth, rinse your mouth gently with warm water to clean the area. Hold a cold compress (ice pack or bag of frozen vegetables) to your face on your way to the dentist. If you experience a cracked tooth call us at 866.930.5837.
Toothache
If you experience tooth pain, rinse with warm water, and use dental floss to gently remove any debris from between teeth. The severity of the pain will determine if you need to see your dentist immediately or the next day. Call our office at 866.930.5837 to schedule an appointment. You are welcome to complete the intake paperwork before you arrive if that makes it easier.
After Injury
After a dental emergency, your initial treatment will address immediate, health-threatening concerns. Some dental emergencies require a follow-up visit to address cosmetic issues. Implants are a common solution to missing or dislodged teeth. We also offer orthodontic services and cosmetic oral surgery options.
How to Avoid Needing Emergency Oral Surgery
- Wear a mouthguard during athletic activity (skateboarding included)
- Avoid crunching hard candy, ice, & popcorn kernels
- Keep sharp objects away from your mouth
- Practice good oral hygiene
- Avoid alcohol and drug abuse
- Have a nightguard made if you grind your teeth
- Avoid clenching your jaw in access
- Don’t jump over things if you’ve been drinking
- Immediately see a dentist if you experience tooth pain
- Eat foods high in calcium
Dental emergencies happen when you least expect them, so it’s extremely helpful to keep your dentist’s information in your wallet and in the notes section of your phone. Promptly treating a dental emergency will decrease the likelihood of needing oral surgery. Our convenient hours at Sacramento Surgical Arts allow us to see patients for oral surgery appointments outside of typical work hours. This can be especially helpful for working adults or children who don’t want to miss school. If you think you may need oral surgery, give us a call at 866.930.5837. We are now open six days a week.
