If you are contending with tooth pain, an infection, or otherwise urgently need to see a dentist, Dr. Landon Libby and our skilled doctors offer many services that can address your immediate dental needs. We are committed to providing swift care in the event of unexpected pain or a sudden dental injury. No matter the severity of your situation, dental emergencies can be frightening and uncomfortable. If you or a loved one is in need, don’t hesitate to contact Libby Dental at our Mission Valley-area office. When you call ahead for urgent care, we make it our effort to aid you as soon as possible. If you are unable to stop into our office, we can also offer temporary care by offering a few tips over the phone.
What’s Considered a Dental Emergency?
Emergencies involving the face or mouth and requiring immediate care include jaw fractures and dislocations, serious soft-tissue injuries, and abscesses with severe swelling, among other situations. Other possible cases requiring urgent dental care include:
- Severe toothache
- Recently broken tooth
- Moderate to severe soft tissue injury
- Swollen or infected gum tissue
- Severe jaw pain
- Tooth abscess
Emergency dentistry is not right for every incident. If you are immunocompromised or have a serious illness, it is especially important to get treated by emergency medical personnel. Situations that require you to call 911 or go directly to the hospital include a sudden impact to the head or neck, severe swelling or bleeding, or difficulty breathing or swallowing. When your symptoms do not stem from these frightening emergencies, we can help you by relieving pain and restoring your health.
Common Causes of a Dental Injury
Dental emergencies can occur unexpectedly and not only affect the function and appearance of your smile, but may also cause pain in your day-to-day life. Understanding the most common causes of an injury can help you take steps to protect your teeth and reduce the risk of damage. Some of the most frequent causes of a dental injury include:
- Sports injuries: Contact sports such as football, basketball, or hockey often involve accidental blows to the mouth that can chip, crack, or knock out teeth.
- Falls: Slips, trips, or accidental impacts are a frequent cause of dental trauma, especially among children and older adults.
- Chewing on hard foods: Biting down on ice, hard candy, or popcorn kernels can place excessive stress on teeth and cause them to crack or break.
- Using teeth as tools: Opening bottles, tearing packages, or holding objects with your teeth can lead to chips, fractures, or even tooth loss.
- Lack of dental hygiene: Poor oral care weakens teeth over time, making them more vulnerable to injuries, decay, and infections.
By recognizing these risk factors, you can take proactive steps to keep your teeth strong and healthy. Protecting your smile today goes a long way towards preventing painful and costly dental problems in the future.
What Should You Do in a Dental Emergency?
No matter how well you care for your teeth and gums, a dental emergency can happen when you least expect it. Our team understands that there are some dental concerns that simply require immediate attention. While suffering an injury or an unexpected dental complication can be stressful, rest assured that our dentists are committed to providing proactive treatment for your emergency dental needs.
A dental emergency needs treatment as soon as possible. If you are unsure if you have a dental emergency, call our office and talk to a member of our staff. Together, we can decide how soon you need to see a dentist. If you need help right away, we can schedule a same-day appointment so you can start feeling better as soon as possible.
What Emergency Dental Services are Available at Libby Dental?
We will do whatever we can to evaluate your injury as soon as possible and determine the best course of action for your needs. Among the many types of dental emergencies that our team can provide timely care for include:
Tooth Trauma
An avulsed, or “knocked out,” tooth is one of the most common dental injuries sustained by patients around the world. While accidental tooth loss often occurs among children, adults can also suffer tooth trauma, whether resulting from a fall, sudden blow to the face, or a sports-related incident. Fortunately, a knocked out tooth may be replanted in certain cases if a patient acts swiftly.
Some tips to increase the likelihood of saving a tooth include:
- Pick up the tooth by the chewing surface (never the root) and gently rinse off any dirt using lukewarm water. Do not use soap or cleaning agents, and do not submerge the tooth in water.
- Keep the tooth moist at all times, either by placing it in your mouth or in a glass of milk.
- Try to place your tooth back in its socket right away if possible.
- See our dentists as soon as you can, ideally within 30 to 60 minutes of the tooth being displaced.
If your tooth has been fractured but was not uprooted from the gums, we can also repair damage with custom-made dental crowns. These restorations are placed over the top of a tooth to strengthen the enamel and protect it from further injury.
Situations Requiring a Tooth Extraction
While we will always do everything in our power to save a compromised tooth, there are many reasons why a tooth extraction may be necessary. When misaligned teeth are too crowded in the mouth, a dentist may recommend extraction to create more room for orthodontic treatment. This may also be the case for teeth that have not erupted, or broken through the gumline. In other situations, an extraction can be the best solution when treating an infection or addressing a severely damaged or decayed tooth.
As long as the procedure is performed by an experienced dentist, tooth extraction is considered very safe and predictable. Dr. Libby will usually numb the affected area with a local anesthetic to minimize discomfort during treatment. The extraction site generally takes one to two weeks to heal, after which our dentists can replace your tooth with a natural-looking restoration, such as a dental implant or dental bridge.
Tips to Prevent a Dental Emergency
Dental emergencies can be worrisome and sometimes costly, but many injuries are preventable with the right habits and by taking the appropriate precautions. By taking a proactive approach to oral care and safety, you can greatly reduce your chances of experiencing an unexpected dental problem. Useful tips often include:
- Wearing a mouthguard during sports – If you participate in contact sports or activities with a risk of impact, a properly fitted mouthguard can protect your teeth from being chipped, broken, or knocked out.
- Avoiding harmful habits – Chewing on ice, biting your nails, or using your teeth as tools can weaken or damage them over time. Avoiding these behaviors helps keep your teeth strong and less prone to injury.
- Maintaining good oral hygiene – Brushing twice daily, flossing regularly, and visiting your dentist for routine checkups strengthen the teeth and gums, reducing the risk of infections, decay, and other situations that may snowball into dental emergencies.
- Not smoking – Smoking not only increases the risk of gum disease and tooth loss, but also slows healing and makes the mouth more vulnerable to infections.
By following these simple but effective practices, you can help protect your smile, minimize the likelihood of sudden dental issues, and enjoy greater peace of mind when it comes to your oral health. Prevention is always easier (and more comfortable) than emergency treatment.
We Are Your Mission Valley Dentist For Emergency Dentistry!
Libby Dental is conveniently located for your dental emergency needs. Our compassionate dental team is trained to handle dental emergencies with quality care. For an experienced dentist in the Mission Valley area, call to schedule an appointment or to voice any of your concerns.
