If you are experiencing a dental emergency, and it is during regular office hours, contact us at 678-714-9199. If your dental emergency is taking place after hours, contact our office answering service for further instructions.
It is important to seek immediate care for dental emergencies to prevent further damage to your teeth and mouth. Your dentists in Buford, GA, strive to treat emergency dental patients as quickly as possible, and reserve time throughout the day to accommodate such situations.
Many patients ignore or put off seeing a dentist in an emergency because they think their pain will go away or treatment will be costly. By contrast, seeing the dentist as quickly as possible can save you money, pain, and prevent future dental problems.
Dental emergencies can range from the typical toothache to mouth trauma from an accident. Lanier Family & Cosmetic Dentistry is equipped to handle all sorts of dental emergencies. If we can’t address your specific emergency, we will coordinate with trusted local specialists and oral surgeons.
What To Do In a Dental Emergency
Common dental emergencies include toothache, pain in the teeth or gums, broken teeth, knocked-out teeth, and broken dental crowns or tooth fillings. Here are some tips for what to do in a dental emergency:
- Knocked-out tooth – If possible, retrieve the tooth. You may rinse the tooth root in water if it is dirty, but do not scrub or remove attached tissue fragments. Store the tooth in a container with your saliva or milk. Contact our office immediately. Teeth have the highest survival rate if they are returned to the socket within one hour of being knocked out. Do not attempt to replace the tooth yourself.
- Broken/lost crown or filling – Never take temporary measures to reattach the crown or filling such as glue. Contact our office as soon as possible to schedule treatment.
- Toothache – Toothaches are very common. Before calling our office, try flossing the teeth to remove lodged food from between the tooth and gums. A warm water rinse may also help to remove debris or trapped particles. If the pain does not go away with these treatments, contact our office as soon as possible.
- Abscess – If you have an abscess, contact us immediately. This type of condition can spread to an infection in the rest of your body if left untreated. Do not attempt to drain or open the abscess. An over-the-counter pain reliever or warm saltwater rinse may help with the pain.
Dental Emergency FAQs
What should I do if a tooth gets knocked out?
The first thing to do if a tooth gets knocked out is to attempt to find the lost tooth. If it is dirty, you should rinse it with water and place it in a cup of your own saliva or any type of milk. Call your dentist and let them know of your situation. In most cases, they will get you in to see them immediately. The sooner you can get into to see your dentist the better chance you have of keeping the tooth.
What should I do if I have a dental emergency and am out of town?
If you have a dental emergency and are unable to reach your regular dentist because you are out of town, you may want to attempt to get home sooner, wait until you are home to have your issues addressed, or contact a different dentist and reach out to yours when you can get in touch with them. These options may depend on the severity of the emergency.
What is categorized as a dental emergency?
A dental emergency is a term that can be used to describe many dental issues, most of which are in need of urgent attention. A dental emergency is swelling, intense pain, or discomfort that a patient cannot fix by themselves. Some of the most common dental emergencies are toothaches, broken or chipped teeth, a knocked-out tooth, lost dental fillings or crowns, or any intense swelling of the gums and mouth.
Do emergency rooms pull teeth?
Emergency rooms are not legally allowed to pull teeth. Dentists are the only people who are allowed to extract teeth. The emergency room can administer medication to help with pain but may not administer dental procedures.
What helps unbearable tooth pain?
Taking an OTC pain reliever is a great way to help manage tooth pain. Advil, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and aspirin are all options that can be found over the counter. The numbing gel may also help relieve pain for a short period. Remember, this is not a solution to your dental issue, only for temporary pain relief.
Schedule a visit to Lanier Family & Cosmetic Dentistry
Our local dentist office is a full-service provider. In addition to general dentistry at Lanier Dental in Buford, we also perform routine and emergency dental surgery, orthodontics, TMJ therapy, and cosmetic dentistry. As dental technology has progressed, the popularity of cosmetic dentistry has grown along with it.
If you are concerned about teeth that are stained, chipped, cracked, or even missing, ask us how we can help. We always address the underlying problem that is causing the concern while giving you a more beautiful smile at the same time.