A Dentist in Ridgefield Covers 5 Top Dental Emergencies

Unfortunately, dental emergencies can strike anywhere, at any time. Sometimes your body just decides to throw you a curve ball – usually when it’s highly inconvenient! If you or someone you know has dealt with a dental emergency in the past, you know that it’s not an experience you’d like to repeat anytime soon. Here, we’ll look at five of the most common situations and how to treat them until you can get medical attention. Remember, while many people think that the emergency room is their only option, your dentist in Ridgefield offers emergency care outside of regular business hours, so care is just a phone call away!

1. Permanent or Temporary Crown Comes Off

This is most likely to happen while you’re chewing, so try your best not to swallow your crown. If you can catch it before that happens, put it in a small plastic sandwich bag and call your dentist immediately. You’ll want an appointment as soon as possible to either re-cement the crown or possibly have a new one made.

Even though it may be tempting, don’t try to glue the crown back on at home with super glue or any kind of adhesive. That can make the dentist’s job harder when you arrive for treatment!

2. A Tooth Has Been Knocked Out

This is often the result of an injury or accident, and has a better prognosis if you’re able to make it to your dentist within an hour. In the meantime, gently pick up the tooth by the top, not the root, and rinse it in milk or water. If you can, try to gently put the tooth back in its socket, facing the correct way.

If not, it’s really important to make sure that the tooth stays moist until you can be seen, preferably in a glass of milk, although water will do.

3. A Toothache, Tooth Abscess, or a Swollen Face

If you experience any of these symptoms, you may have a serious infection. Call your dentist right away to schedule an appointment so they can determine the cause of the problem and provide the necessary treatment.

While you’re waiting to be seen you can use over-the-counter pain medication and may also apply ice for 20 minutes at a time.

4. Broken Jaw or Lockjaw

Both of these situations require immediate attention, so call your emergency dentist in Ridgefield as soon as you can. If you have a broken jaw, avoid eating anything and gently ice the area for 20 minutes at a time. If your jaw feels locked, a warm, moist compress may relax the muscles and offer temporary relief.

5. A Tooth or Filling Breaks

If you’re in pain, you can take your usual over-the-counter pain medication until you’re able to get care. If you’re not experiencing any pain, it’s your choice if you want to see your dentist during regular office hours or make an emergency appointment.

In the meantime, avoid chewing on anything particularly hard or crunchy to avoid breaking the tooth further.

About the Author

Dr. Dana C. Jones and Dr. Josephine A. Franzese are not only highly accomplished general, restorative and cosmetic dentists, but are both parents as well. They understand the importance of keeping your family healthy in an emergency and make it a top priority to provide emergency care for their patients when things don’t go according to plan. They can be reached for questions via their website or at (203) 438-8919.