Emergency Dentistry – Barton City, MI
When Care is
Urgently Needed
You don’t have any time to lose when your tooth has been injured, knocked out, or is otherwise in severe pain. Luckily, at Healthy Smiles Dental Care of Barton City, you’ll have a team of experts and specialists who are equipped to deal with various dental issues. Once you walk through our front doors, you can be sure that you’ll be greeted by a team that cares about finding you relief as quickly as possible. Call us immediately if you need dental care as soon as possible for emergency dentistry in Barton City, MI.
Why Choose Healthy Smiles Dental Care of Barton City for Emergency Dentistry?
- Various Services in One Location
- Team of Experienced, Caring Specialists
- Sedation Options for Reducing Anxiety
Common Dental Emergencies
When patients call us for a dental emergency, we know that that could mean several different things. There is no catch-all definition for dental emergencies. They do, however, tend to fall under two broad categories: those that result from poor dental hygiene habits and those that were caused by sudden accidents or injuries. Please let us know exactly what happened and what you’re experiencing so that we can give you the best possible advice over the phone. The following tips can help you take control of some of the most common dental emergencies.
Toothaches
Before you call, see if the pain goes away after you floss and rinse to get rid of any pieces of food that might have become stuck in your teeth. If the toothache persists, you can use over-the-counter painkillers to stay comfortable. Keep in mind that you may need to have a root canal done to save the tooth depending on the source of the pain.
Chipped/Broken Tooth
Sometimes a broken tooth cannot be repaired and will have to be removed. That said, even minor chips and cracks can eventually lead to more severe issues if they’re not addressed early on. Protect the tooth until your appointment. Eat only soft foods and avoid chewing with the affected side of your mouth. Apply an ice pack if there is any swelling around the tooth in question.
Knocked-Out Tooth
Locate the tooth as soon as you can and pick it up by the end used for chewing. After you briefly rinse it under warm water, you can try to put it back in your mouth. It can also be stored in a glass of milk or in the space between your cheek and gums. You should make every effort to get to our dental office in less than an hour if you want to have any chance of replanting the tooth.
Lost Filling/Crown
If you can still find the restoration, bring it with you to your appointment. Your tooth may be sensitive, so apply clove oil if you need to. You can try temporarily reattaching a crown with dental cement. Be careful of what you eat before your appointment; your tooth is likely to be vulnerable, so you should only eat soft foods until a permanent solution is found.
Preventing Dental Emergencies
There will always be some risk of a dental emergency, but there are plenty of variables you can control. Don’t forget to brush and floss every day; be sure to pay attention to the hard-to-reach spots where bacteria could easily accumulate. To protect your teeth from physical threats, stay away from particularly hard foods such as popcorn kernels, and try to break bad oral habits like chewing on your fingernails. If you play any kind of sport, ask us for a custom mouthguard.
Cost of Treating Dental Emergencies
Once you’ve arrived at our dental office and have received a proper diagnosis, you might start thinking about how much you’re going to need to pay for your care. We will always look for the solution that gets you out of pain as quickly as possible without breaking your budget. Whenever we propose a specific form of treatment, we will always take the time to explain the related costs so that you know what to expect. Our team is experienced in handling insurance claims for various companies, and they can explain other methods of financing your care.
TMJ/TMD Therapy
Obviously, you already know to make a dental appointment when your teeth or gums are in pain, but what if the issue is with your jaw? If the TMJ (temporomandibular joint) that connects the lower jaw to the head is strained or injured, you’ll often experience chronic discomfort. In severe cases, you might have trouble opening and closing your jaw at all. We can offer solutions for TMJ disorders, so if you’ve been experiencing jaw pain that shows no sign of going away, call us as soon as you can.
Dental Emergency FAQs
Reading through the above information can give you valuable insight into everything from the common types of dental injuries to the cost of treating them. However, in an effort to be as prepared as possible, you may still have some questions on your mind. Fortunately, we’re here to help! Keep reading for the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we get from patients.
Will my toothache go away on its own?
Despite popular belief, toothaches do not heal on their own. In fact, a once painful toothache that has gone radio silent may actually be an indicator that the infection has damaged the nerve of the tooth! Therefore, it’s always a good idea to schedule an appointment with your dentist in Barton City right away. From there, they can determine the root of the problem and put a plan in place to restore the look and function of your smile.
Should I visit the emergency room first for dental emergencies?
If your dental emergency in Barton City has resulted in a potentially life-threatening condition, like difficulty breathing or a broken jaw, then you should head to your local emergency room first. However, ERs typically don’t have dentists on-staff, meaning they won’t be able to address dental emergencies effectively. Therefore, with all other smile-related injuries (i.e., a lost filling, knocked-out tooth, etc.), your first call should be to our emergency dentist.
My chipped tooth doesn’t hurt. Do I still need to visit?
Even if your chipped tooth doesn’t hurt, it’s a good idea to schedule an appointment with your dentist. Although you may not be in any pain, the inner layers of your tooth could be vulnerable to damage. Plus, your chipped tooth may break further without professional attention, resulting in sensitivity, soreness, and overall discomfort. With that being said, you can most likely afford to wait a day or two until your appointment if needed. Just make sure you don’t put off seeing your dentist for too long.
What should I keep in my emergency dentistry kit?
From a lost filling to a knocked-out tooth, dental injuries can be anxiety-inducing. To make the entire experience as stress-free as possible, preparation is paramount. With this in mind, keep an emergency dental kit nearby with the below essentials:
- A storage container large enough to fit a tooth or restorations.
- Sterile gloves.
- Gauze pads.
- Cotton balls.
- Dental cement (or other temporary filling material).
- Denture adhesive.
- Petroleum jelly.
- Anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen.
- An ice pack or cold compress.
- Contact information for our emergency dentist in Barton City.