Whenever you have an injury to one of your teeth, it can be rather upsetting. Not only can this cause serious pain, but you may be unsure of how to receive proper care. By taking time to understand how your dentist treats emergency injuries, you can gain confidence that your smile is in good hands. Even an injury as minor as a chip or crack should be seen right away as they expose the insides of your tooth. Left unprotected, your broken enamel can let in decay or infection and increase the severity of your emergency. Do not wait until your next dental checkup to have your mouth inspected in these circumstances.
At your Katy, TX dental practice, we provide emergency services to repair your smile in your time of need. While our regular cleanings and exams help you prevent damage from bacterial buildup, sometimes physical injuries or sudden infections strike when you least expect them. By coming into our office, we can stem the original injury and help you plan a cosmetic restoration to return the beauty of your grin!
When You Should Seek Emergency Care For Your Smile
At your routine dental checkups, we check your smile for existing damage in addition to cleaning your teeth. This means that certain repair work like providing a filling for a small cavity is generally performed at your semiannual visits. However, when decay reaches the point of creating a severe infection, you should not wait to visit our practice to repair your tooth. Time is of the essence when your tooth is infected because it can potentially spread to other areas of your body.
We also suggest scheduling an immediate visit whenever you have physical trauma to one of your teeth. This could include chips, breaks, or even teeth that are completely knocked out. Any of these injuries can crack the protective enamel layer that prevents oral bacteria from damaging your smile. By providing repair work right away, we restore your tooth to protect it from future infections.
Providing Emergency Dental Care
When you cannot get the bleeding under control or believe that your life is in danger, you must first call 911 or head to the emergency room of your nearest hospital. Otherwise, take the following steps to visit our office. Consider taking an over-the-counter pain pill for your comfort, and use a cold compress to clot your bleeding. For loose pieces of teeth, collect them by their crown and place them in a jar of milk or saltwater bath for transporting to our office. Remember to never touch a tooth by its roots. At your appointment, we will provide the necessary work to repair your injury.
Talk To Your Katy, TX, Dentist To Learn More About Our Emergency Dental Services
By receiving immediate care, you can restore your smile after an unfortunate injury. To learn more about this service, please call Lathrop Dental Center in Katy, TX at (832) 437-3849.
