When you have a dental emergency — whether it’s caused by a sudden accident or chronic disease — your teeth and/or the tissues of the mouth that surround them need to receive proper care right away. As with any type of medical emergency, it’s important to be aware, before you’re actually in the situation, of what you can do to ensure the best outcome.
A knocked-out permanent tooth requires quick thinking and immediate action. You’ll increase the chances that the tooth can be saved if you pick it up without touching the root, gently clean it off with water, and put it back in its socket facing the correct way. Hold it in place with gentle pressure as you rush to the dental office or emergency room. If you can’t replant it immediately, tuck it between the patient’s cheek and gum, or carry it in a container of cold milk.
For a more traumatic injury such as a tooth that has been moved or loosened, treatment needs to occur within six hours. However, if there is uncontrollable bleeding, go immediately to the ER. Fortunately, other dental injuries that happen most frequently are less severe. The most common traumatic dental injuries are chipped teeth. If a tooth is chipped, try to find any pieces that have come off, as it might be possible to reattach them. Make an appointment for an office visit as soon as possible, and bring the pieces with you.
Acute or persistent tooth pain always signals a need for an urgent visit to the dental office. The most common cause of dental pain is tooth decay, a bacterial infection that can spread through many parts of the tooth, and even into the gum tissue. Sometimes, tooth pain indicates that you may need a root canal treatment — a procedure that not only relieves the pain of an infection deep inside the tooth, but also can keep the tooth from having to be removed. Other times, pain may be caused by a loose filling or sensitive tooth. The only way to know for sure what’s causing your tooth pain is to make an appointment at the dental office right away.
Our Emergency Dental Services
At Harmon Dental Center, we provide a range of emergency dental services to relieve pain and restore your smile. Here are some services we offer:
- Emergency fillings
- Emergency root canals
- Temporary crowns
- Emergency tooth extraction
- Dental implants
Same Day Emergency Appointments
We provide convenient, same-day dental appointments. If your tooth pain is getting worse, please call us for immediate assistance and we will work to get you into our office as soon as possible.
Visit Our Louisville Emergency Dentist
For dental emergencies, contact Harmon Dental Center, dentist serving Louisville KY, Middletown KY, Hurstbourne KY, Prospect KY, Anchorage KY, Crestwood KY, Douglass Hills KY. We are the most trusted choice for dental care in the Louisville area.
Call us today at 502-245-3602 to schedule an appointment.
