What is emergency dental care?
Emergency dental care diagnoses and treats oral health problems that require immediate attention. If you lose a permanent tooth or damage a dental restoration, emergency dental care can prevent the problem from getting worse.
Making it to The Bonner Dental Network PC within an hour of your first symptoms could mean the difference between a quick outpatient procedure or a series of appointments and the need for oral surgery.
What issues does emergency dental care treat?
At The Bonner Dental Network PC, Dr. Bonner uses emergency dental care to treat a variety of issues, including:
- Cracked, chipped, or damaged teeth
- Deep decay
- Gum disease
- Damaged or missing dental restorations
- Knocked-out teeth
- Oral abscesses
- Bleeding that won’t stop
- Foreign objects stuck between teeth
You might also benefit from emergency dental care if you experience oral trauma due to playing sports or a car accident.
What should I do if I damage a restoration or lose a tooth?
If you damage a restoration or lose a tooth, it’s important to act quickly:
Damaged restoration
Carefully pick up the pieces of the restoration, rinse them off, and put them in a plastic bag or wrap them in a piece of foil. Then, call The Bonner Dental Network PC. Explain your symptoms and the situation to the friendly administrative team. They can make recommendations to ease pain, swelling, or bleeding on your way to the office.
Lost permanent tooth
If you lose a permanent tooth, pick it up and rinse it off. Try to place the tooth back in its socket, but if it wobbles around, tuck it inside your cheek. After securing your tooth, call The Bonner Dental Network PC. The friendly support staff will get you in for a same-day appointment.
What can I do to avoid emergency dental care?
There’s no way to prevent the need for emergency dental care entirely, but you can lower the risk by practicing good oral hygiene and taking steps to protect your teeth and gums.
Dr. Bonner recommends brushing and flossing daily and visiting the office twice a year for an oral exam and professional cleaning.
To prevent damage to your teeth, avoid bad habits like chewing on ice cubes or popcorn kernels. If you play contact sports like lacrosse or rugby, consider wearing a mouthguard. Likewise, if you grind your teeth during sleep, wear a nightguard.
Don’t wait to make an emergency dental appointment at The Bonner Dental Network PC by calling the office to speak with a friendly staff member, walking-in during normal business hours, or clicking the online booking tool.
