There is a time in everyone’s life when they have a dental issue that comes on the weekends or after working hours. It’s sometimes difficult to determine when these situations are an emergency and when they can wait until the dentist is back in the office. If you are wondering if you have a dental emergency or something that can wait, the following guidelines can help.

Urgent Dental Emergencies

It’s important to understand the difference between an emergency and a simple problem to protect and save the tooth if it’s in danger. Some things to watch for that are likely to be dental emergencies include:

• Injured jaw
• Painful swelling
• Painful toothaches
• Non-stop bleeding
• Knocked out or loose permanent teeth

If you have any of these problems you are likely looking at a dental emergency that require an emergency call and appointment with Dr. Van Horn, even if it’s after hours.

If you have a tooth that has been knocked out, place it in a glass of milk until your dentist can look at it. Use boiling water as a warm mouthwash to reduce swelling and relieve irritation, and floss between teeth that are causing your pain. Use a cold compress to numb irritation, stop bleeding or reduce swelling.

Non-Urgent Problems

A toothache might be painful, but also might not be enough to schedule an emergency visit. The following are examples of problems that can typically wait until working hours to be treated.

• Dull toothache
• Damaged or broken night guard or retainer
• Cracked or broken tooth that isn’t causing serious pain
• Lost crown, bridge or filling
• Food stuck between teeth

While these may not qualify as dental emergencies you’ll still want to contact your dentist as quickly as possible to get them treated to avoid prolonged pain and discomfort.

Contact Us at Any Time

When you have a dental emergency and are concerned about the long-term effects on your mouth, give us a call at Southern Smiles Dental to discuss your options. We’ll help you determine if the problem should be treated right away or if it can wait.