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Dental Emergencies

Emergency Dentist In Gainesville, FL

If you are experiencing a broken tooth, toothache, extruded tooth, lost crown or any other extreme pain, you may feel panicked. Stay calm and apply an ice pack or cold compress to help reduce the swelling and pain before calling an emergency dentist in Gainesville with Van Dyke General and Implant Dentistry for reliable, emergency dental care. Our team strives to provide patients with the highest-quality oral care for a healthy smile that lasts. Contact us to learn more about our general dentistry services and to book an emergency appointment.

What Is A Dental Emergency?

When you experience a painful toothache that won’t subside or you crack, fracture, or chip a tooth (or experience any other type of dental emergency) you need to see your Gainesville dentist as soon as possible for emergency dentistry services. Any dental emergency, whether it’s due to an injury to the soft tissues of the mouth, such as the gums, cheek, or tongue, or a lost crown or filling, can be a potentially serious problem and should not be ignored. Ignoring dental issues can put you at risk for permanent damage and the need for more extensive and expensive dental treatment in the future.

Whatever type of issue you experience, your dental emergency might involve a great deal of pain. At Van Dyke General and Implant Dentistry, we understand the excruciating pain and discomfort caused by dental emergencies. We offer prompt, professional emergency dental treatment for lost fillings, toothaches, knocked-out teeth, chipped teeth, broken teeth, lost crowns, lost fillings, teeth abscesses, and other dental situations that require immediate attention. Schedule an appointment at our Gainesville location for quick dental care so you can feel better faster.

Lost Filling

Dental fillings comprise a special dental material your dentist uses to fill the hole made in your tooth when they remove decay from or repair a broken tooth. With proper care, composite fillings can last for years, but they won’t last forever. A filling can fall out for an array of reasons, whether it is due to new tooth decay developing in the tooth or around the filling or chewing too hard, or grinding your teeth in your sleep. When a filling comes loose, you may experience throbbing pain and tooth sensitivity to heat and cold, among other symptoms. If your tooth filling fell out, contact our emergency dentist in Gainesville for prompt care.

Toothache

A sensation of severe pain in your mouth often signals that something is amiss, and when it occurs, it can be overwhelming. Oftentimes, toothaches can be a sign that you require emergency dental treatment. However, it may still be difficult to determine the cause unless there was a trauma caused to the tooth. The causes of a toothache can vary widely and may occur at any time, in any individual. Tooth decay is among the most common toothache causes for most adults and children, in addition to tooth abscesses, food residue, dental trauma, lost crowns, and lost fillings.

Knocked-Out Tooth

Dental injuries can occur for a variety of different reasons and result in dental trauma of varying types and degrees of severity. Avulsed teeth or knocked-out teeth are considered a dental emergency. If knocked out, then an adult tooth (permanent tooth or secondary tooth) should be replaced within the tooth’s socket as soon as possible after it was dislodged. Even when a tooth is knocked out, there is often still a chance that it may be saved, though this isn’t always possible. If your tooth is dislodged from its socket, and it cannot be saved, then your dentist may recommend a dental implant, dental bridge, or partial dentures.

Lost Crown

When patients have a broken or cracked tooth, or when they undergo a root canal, they typically receive a dental crown. A tooth crown is a type of cap placed on the tooth in order to protect the tooth from harm and damage, and they cover all of the visible teeth above the gumline. Crowns should last for a number of years, but they are susceptible to becoming damaged and falling out. This can occur due to an improperly fitting tooth crown, an inadequate amount of dental crown cement, tooth decay that occurs under the crown, eating sticky or hard foods that displace the crown, grinding your teeth, or a severely weakened tooth.

Tooth Abscess

Tooth abscesses are an infection that occurs in teeth when bacteria grow in the inner portion of the tooth, where the nerves, tissue, and blood vessels are located. You may develop a dental abscess when dental cavities are left untreated for an extended period of time, or if your tooth becomes cracked, fractured, or chipped. If you notice pus around your tooth or gum line, call Van Dyke General and Implant Dentistry immediately for treatment. Under no circumstances should you leave an abscessed tooth untreated, as it can be life-threatening.

Chipped Or Broken Tooth

Teeth can chip or break as a result of a fall, blows to the face, using your teeth to tear open packaging, or even biting down on hard foods, among other causes. Also commonly referred to as a fractured tooth or broken tooth, a cracked tooth may range in severity from a minor crack that only affects the tooth enamel to a severe crack that runs down the entire tooth down to the root. You may or may not experience oral pain after cracking a tooth, as well as sensitivity to extremely hot or cold foods and drinks. Depending on your needs, your dentist may recommend tooth bonding, root canal therapy, a dental crown, or porcelain veneers to fix the crack.

What Should I Do If I Have A Dental Emergency?

A dental emergency can occur at any moment. We understand that accidents happen, and we strive to provide quick and professional emergency dental care for all of our patients’ needs. If you are a new patient and you require services for general dentistry in Gainesville, please contact us for a new patient form. You can print it out, complete it, and bring it with you to your appointment.

  • Step 1: Call Our Office. If you experience a dental emergency, call us as soon as you can! We block out space in our schedule for emergency dental appointments.
  • Step 2: Follow Our Instructions. Over the phone, one of our team members will walk you through basic first aid to help minimize your pain and manage your symptoms until you can come in for an appointment.
  • Step 3: See Your Gainesville Emergency Dentist. When you arrive in our office, our dentist will see you right away for an exam, focusing on alleviating any pain and evaluating your condition.
  • Step 4: Review Your Treatment Options. Once the dentist reviews their findings with you, they will fully explain all of your treatment options. Together, you will create a customized treatment plan that suits your needs.
  • Step 5: Get The Urgent Dental Care You Need. As soon as a course of treatment is chosen, our talented dental team will jump into action to repair your smile.

What Is The Most Common Dental Emergency?

Dental emergencies are more common than you may think, and they can occur at any time and in any place. From dental trauma that results from rough contact sports to those from biting into hard candies, we all may require emergency dental treatment at some point or another. Our dentists in Gainesville, FL, can treat patients for a wide range of dental emergencies, including the following most common emergency dental conditions. For more information or for help from our emergency dentists, contact Van Dyke General and Implant Dentistry.

  • Cracked Or Fractured Tooth
  • Infected Tooth
  • Bleeding Gums
  • Mouth Sores
  • Toothache
  • Knocked-Out Tooth
  • Chipped Or Broken Tooth
  • Loose Or Wiggling Teeth
  • Lost Crown
  • Tooth Sensitivity
  • Lost Filling
  • Broken Dentures
  • Jaw Pain Or Clenching
  • Gum, Lips, Or Tongue Injury

What Causes Dental Emergencies?

Dental emergencies can happen to anyone at any time of day or night and in any place. Oral conditions, such as tooth decay, gum disease, TMJ disorders, and large and old fillings contribute to some of the most prevalent dental emergencies. However, multiple situations in our daily lives can accidentally lead to a dental emergency, as well. Some of these situations can include the following. The longer your dental issues are left untreated, the more likely that they may cause permanent damage to your teeth, or they may warrant extensive treatments.

  • Slips, trips, and falls
  • Playing contact sports
  • Physical activities
  • Work-related accidents
  • Car accidents
  • Consuming hard foods
  • Using teeth to open packaging
  • Chewing ice
  • Teeth grinding (bruxism)
  • Jaw joint pain or locking

What Issues Require Immediate Medical Help?

In certain cases, a visit to the emergency room or hospital is more appropriate than visiting our office for a dental emergency. Some of the most common reasons a patient might seek immediate medical help may include severe swelling of their jaw, face, or gums; a substantial amount of bleeding or injuries to the head, which may include tooth damage; and severe tooth abscesses, which have gone untreated and may cause sepsis, a potentially fatal condition. Seeking medical help as soon as you need it can prevent more serious problems for you and your loved ones after accidents that may affect your teeth as well as other parts of your body.

Dental Emergency Tips

A dental emergency can be extremely uncomfortable. We understand how painful these emergencies can be which is why we’ve provided some tips for dealing with dental emergencies.

Toothache

If you have a toothache, first clean the area around the tooth. Saltwater can be used to rinse the area and clear food particles from between the sore tooth and surrounding teeth. If you experience facial swelling due to a toothache, apply an ice pack or cold compress. We recommend taking a combination of acetaminophen and ibuprofen for toothache pain relief if your medical history allows for it and contact the dentist to schedule an appointment.

Chipped Or Broken Tooth

Whether you’ve chipped a tooth on food or have had a tooth knocked out in an accident, you’re probably in pain. If you’ve been injured, we recommend placing an ice pack or cold compress on the area to reduce swelling and minimize bruising. If you can, collect the broken tooth fragments and schedule an appointment with your dentist.

Lost Filling Or Crown

As a temporary measure for a lost filling, stick a piece of sugarless gum into the cavity, or use an over-the-counter dental cement to fill the hole in your tooth. Call our dental office and schedule a prompt appointment for a lost filling replacement. For a lost dental crown that falls off, make an appointment with us to see your dentist right away and bring the crown with you (if possible). We will provide you with instructions on how to care for your tooth.

Knocked-Out Tooth

If your tooth has been knocked out, gently rinse the tooth while holding it by the crown. Do not clean or disinfect the tooth, and try not to handle it by the root. Wrap the tooth in clean gauze and try to reinsert it. If it cannot be reinserted, store the tooth in a container with water or milk and see your dentist immediately.

Tooth Abscess

Abscesses are infections that occur around the root of a tooth or in the spaces in between the teeth and gums. A tooth abscess is a serious condition that can damage surrounding teeth and tissue, with the infection potentially spreading to other parts of the body, if left untreated. See your dentist as soon as possible if you discover pimple-like swelling in your gums.

How To Avoid Dental Emergencies

Emergency Dentist In Gainesville, FL

Unfortunately, some dental emergencies can be impossible to prevent. However, there are some steps you can take to mitigate the chance of experiencing a dental emergency. Dental emergencies can often be prevented with regular visits to your dentist for teeth cleanings and oral checkups. Additionally, maintaining good oral hygiene at home can likewise help keep your teeth and gums healthy, and help you avoid experiencing certain dental emergencies. Certain foods, such as sticky, sugary treats, can cause damage to your teeth and gums.Skipping foods with high sugar contents and sticking with nutritious fruits and veggies can help protect your smile. If you play contact sports or engage in activities that may result in oral trauma, consider wearing a mouthguard. A mouthguard can also help prevent dental emergencies from excessive teeth grinding, or bruxism. Last, be sure to use appropriate tools to open packages, instead of your teeth. As a general rule, only use your teeth for smiling, speaking, chewing, and eating!

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