A damaged tooth, or sudden pain, means you need to see the dentist as soon as possible. Fortunately, our office provides Astoria, NY, patients with access to emergency dental care. When should you consider an emergency dentist?
Chipped Teeth
A chipped tooth may happen due to a sports injury or even biting down on a hard piece of food, especially if the tooth in question has been weakened by poor oral hygiene. Even if the chip seems minor, we still suggest seeing us right away. Even minor damage often exposes enough inner tissue to increase the risk of tooth decay. You should try to bring any pieces of the tooth you can recover with you. A cold compress against the side of the face can reduce swelling en route to the office, while a piece of gauze may stem bleeding.
Loose or Lost Restorations
If you have a crown or filling that becomes loose, or even falls out, see us as soon as possible. A loose or lost dental restoration means the interior of the tooth is exposed to bacteria. In addition to aching when you eat or drink, the exposed tooth may be more likely to develop decay or infection the longer it remains untreated. We can add a new restoration to safeguard your smile.
Knocked-Out Teeth
If you have a tooth knocked-out, then bring it with you in a glass of milk or salt water. You can also place the tooth back into the socket and bite down gently to hold in place. Never touch the tooth’s root, only pick it up by the crown. You can remove dirt and foreign debris under gently running water.
Aching Teeth or Objects Stuck Between Them
If your tooth develops a sudden and severe ache, let us know! Should an object become stuck between your teeth that floss cannot remove, again, let us know (and never try to remove it with anything other than floss, you could damage your gum tissue)! We can help.
Ready for an Emergency Dentist?
We offer care to help patients with dental emergencies. For more information, schedule a consultation with us by calling Jeffrey Leibowitz, DDS, in Astoria, NY, today at 718-728-8320.
