Emergency Exams

Emergency Exams

What Is a Dental Emergency?

While some dental emergencies may be easy to identify, there are many situations that qualify as a dental emergency. Including:

• Knocked-out teeth – If your tooth has been knocked-out due to an accident or oral injury, it is crucial that you get treatment within 1-2 hours for the best chance of saving your tooth. 
• Loose or missing dental work – If a crown or filling falls out, you should come in as soon as possible to avoid exposing your vulnerable tooth to oral bacteria. 
• Persistent toothache – A toothache that lasts for more than a couple of days is considered a dental emergency as this usually indicates an infected tooth that needs to be treated with a root canal. 
• Lacerations to the lips, tongue, or cheeks – If you have a cut or laceration on your tongue, lips, cheeks, or gums, and cannot stop the bleeding on your own, one of our doctors can help. 
  

Essentially a dental emergency is anything that is causing you pain or discomfort that you cannot treat on your own. If you think you may be experiencing a dental emergency in Oak Hill, don’t hesitate to give us a call at (512) 551-5400.

What to Do in a Dental Emergency?

The first thing you should do during a dental emergency is call our office at (512) 551-5400. This will allow us to talk you through your situation and prepare for your arrival. Once you have done this, you can take steps to alleviate your discomfort and prepare for your visit. 

You can take over-the-counter pain medication to manage your pain, and apply ice packs externally to lessen pain and swelling. You can also manage bleeding with clean cotton balls and gauze. 

If you have dental work that is loose or has fallen out, bring it with you to your emergency appointment. By saving your dental work, you can avoid paying for a replacement and get faster treatment. 

If your tooth has been knocked out, recover the tooth by picking it up from the crown (top), not the fragile roots. Rinse the tooth in warm water, if necessary, and gently try to place it back in its socket. If you cannot replace it in its socket, put it in a sealed container or baggie of milk and bring it with you to our office. Placing the tooth in milk will preserve it and keep it alive until we can place it back into its socket. 

Above all else, it is important to get treatment for your dental emergency right away. Give us a call or contact us online to set up your same-day appointment.

Same-Day Dental Emergency Appointments

At Oak Hill Dental, we know that dental emergencies can be inconvenient and nerve-wracking. That is why we offer same-day emergency appointments for all of our patients. If you are experiencing a dental emergency, give us a call at (512) 551-5400 as soon as possible.