A dental emergency in Wilmington, DE, can feel scary and overwhelming, especially if you've never injured a tooth or experienced dental swelling before.
While the experience is never pleasant, you can be a little more in control during an emergency if you have a plan of action. By taking a few minutes to prepare ahead of time, you'll be calmer and act faster than if you'd never considered the possibility.
Below, Your emergency dentist in Wilmington, DE, outlines three simple steps you can take during a dental emergency to help you stay calm:
#1 Assess the Scene
Because some dental injuries occur instantly and very unexpectedly, it's vital for you (and your friends or family who may be with you) to take a few moments to assess the situation.
If you have a knocked-out tooth, do everything you can to locate it. Then, gently pick it up by the crown only. You should store the tooth in milk or a cup of saliva unit you see the dentist. With proper handling, we can sometimes reset the tooth into the gum.
If you have a toothache with swelling, this may indicate a tooth root infection requiring root canal therapy. It's crucial to call the emergency dentist to book a visit.
Other dental emergencies can include a broken/lost restoration or an oral injury.
Assessing these emergencies helps you share your situation in clear detail with one of our team members when you call our office.
#2 While You Wait for Your Emergency Dental Visit
Some dental emergencies are very painful. Fortunately, an over-the-counter painkiller can help temporarily. If you have swelling, you can also try using an ice pack to reduce inflammation. For minor bleeding due to a minor oral injury, try staunching the flow with sterile gauze.
Once you come in for your emergency dental appointment, we can take steps to restore your oral health and ease pain!
#3 Contact Your Wilmington Emergency Dentist
Every dental emergency needs to be evaluated by a knowledgeable dentist. Even if you don't think your dental injury looks "bad enough" to visit our dental office, you should call us anyway. Sometimes, it's impossible to know the extent of the damage to your smile without dental x-rays or a thorough exam.
If you have a dental emergency, please call Dr. Bruce Matthews and our clinical team at (302) 475-9220.