Nobody wants to experience a dental emergency like a broken tooth or a serious toothache, but it does happen. And if it happens to you, you should be prepared, and know what to do to get immediate care, prevent further complications, and keep your mouth healthy. Here are a few quick tips from the dental office of Priti Naik, DDS.
First, it’s important to note that most dental injuries, while serious, are not life-threatening. Because of this, you should not go to the emergency room (ER). Most ERs do not have dentists on-staff, and even if they do, you will end up paying significantly more for care than you would if you saw an emergency dentist.
However, always use your best judgment. Don’t put your life at risk. If you believe your life is threatened by a dental emergency, you should definitely visit the ER.
A serious oral injury like a broken jaw, for example, could be life-threatening. Major facial or jaw swelling combined with a high fever could indicate an extensive oral infection that may lead to sepsis, which is life-threatening.
If your injury is not life-threatening, the next thing you should do is call an emergency dentist to schedule a same-day consultation.
Some emergency dentists in Vienna, Tysons Corner, and McLean are only seeing patients with the most urgent issues during COVID-19. However, Dr. Priti Naik is seeing patients with all dental emergencies.
Even if you think your issue is not extremely serious, you can call us to schedule a same-day appointment right away at the office of Priti Naik, DDS.
If you have a knocked-out tooth, retrieve it and rinse it with warm water if it’s dirty. Put it into a container of cold milk or back into the socket to keep it moist. Come to our office within 1-2 hours to have the tooth splinted back into place. Don’t waste time treating pain, discomfort, or bleeding on your own. If you wait too long, the tooth will die.
If you have a piece of dental work that’s been pulled loose, like a crown, recover it, rinse it off, and put it into a small plastic baggie, and bring it with you to your consultation.
If you have time, you can treat bleeding by using clean paper towels or gauze. Pain can be partially mitigated with an OTC pain medication like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, and applying an ice pack to the cheek near the affected site for 10 minutes at a time can help numb the area and inhibit swelling.
However, these are temporary solutions. You need to visit your emergency dentist ASAP for permanent care, so don’t spend too much time treating your pain and discomfort.
We are fully open and accepting patients with dental emergencies, and at the office of Priti Naik, DDS, we’re taking special precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus. If you need emergency dentistry in Tysons Corner, McLean, or Vienna, contact us at (703) 288-1800 to schedule an appointment immediately, and get the emergency dental care you need from Dr. Priti Naik.