Emergency Dentist — Abington, MA
Fast Care From Our Emergency Dentist
An urgent dental emergency is a situation where a tooth is damaged, in pain, or at risk of permanent damage. There are also non-urgent dental emergencies, where a problem occurs that needs to be treated quickly, but can wait a few days if needed. But how can you tell the difference? Would you know what to do if you suddenly encountered a broken, knocked-out, or excruciatingly painful tooth? Knowing what to do ahead of time will help you act quickly and correctly in the event of an emergency, which can sometimes make all the difference between saving and losing a tooth. If you ever find yourself in the middle of a dental emergency, don’t worry, there’s only one thing you need to do: call Abington Family Dental Care.
Why Choose Abington Family Dental Care for Emergency Dental Care?
- Same-Day Emergency Appointments Available, Even on Saturdays
- Team of Highly Trained Dentists with Years of Experience
- Essential Dental Savings Plan & CareCredit Make Emergency Treatment Affordable
How We Treat Dental Emergencies
If you or a loved one ever experiences a dental emergency, please be sure to call our practice immediately. We will walk you through exactly what to do, and we’ll make sure to take care of your emergency as quickly as possible. When you call, here’s generally what you can expect:
- We will schedule your same-day appointment. Over the phone, we’ll help you assess your situation, give you first-aid instructions, and schedule you an appointment. Most times, we’re able to see emergency patients the same day they call us.
- One of our emergency dentists will examine you. As soon as you arrive, one of our talented dentists will see you for an evaluation. They will learn more about the source and extent of your emergency while alleviating any serious pain you’re in.
- We will review our findings with you and make a plan. Your Abington emergency dentist will review their findings with you, fully explain all your treatment options, and work with you to make a plan for getting your oral health back on track.
- You will get fast care from our emergency dentist. We are proud to offer a wide range of treatments in-office, so no matter what kind of emergency you are facing, our experienced team will get to work right away to protect your teeth and repair your smile.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
Our team is specially trained to handle a wide variety of dental emergencies, and when you call in, we’ll make an appointment to see you as quickly as possible, usually within the same day. When you make it to our office, we’ll handle your case promptly so we can relieve your pain and save your smile. In the end, right when you need us the most, you can always trust us to be there.
Of course, there are a few helpful things you can do right after you’ve experienced a dental emergency. Below, you’ll find tips on how to handle some of the most common ones, but be sure to follow these directions only after you have called us.
How to Prevent Dental Emergencies
Our team is always ready to help you when you face a dental emergency. However, we are sure that you would prefer to avoid such a situation in the first place. To help you reduce your risk, we are providing a brief guide on how to prevent dental emergencies in Abington. Read on below to learn more.
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Everyone should visit their dentist for preventive care at least twice a year. These appointments can help to prevent dental emergencies in a few different ways:
- They allow us to identify and treat most dental problems before they become severe.
- We clean your teeth, removing plaque and tartar that could lead to cavities later on.
- We provide personalized coaching to help you care well for your teeth on a day-to-day basis.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene Habits at Home
A solid oral hygiene routine fights plaque and bacteria, helping your mouth to avoid decay and gum disease. Here are some basic tips for at-home care:
- Brush twice a day. Do not forget to clean along your gumline and the backs of your teeth.
- Floss once a day. If flossing is difficult for you, you might consider using an oral irrigator instead.
- Drink plenty of water. Water washes away bacteria and food debris, and it helps you prevent a dry mouth.
Watch What You Eat
Harmful oral bacteria love to feed on sugars and starches, which can lead to plaque, cavities, and the need to visit our emergency dental office in Abington. It is best to limit your intake of such foods. It is also wise to reduce your consumption of acidic foods and beverages. Extremely hard foods should be avoided altogether because they can break the teeth. Instead, try to center your diet around foods that are rich in tooth-friendly nutrients, like calcium and vitamin D.
Wear a Mouthguard
Do you like to play sports? You should wear a mouthguard when you are on the field or court. Over the counter mouthguards provide a degree of protection, but custom ones from a dentist are more comfortable and more effective. If you grind your teeth at night, you should wear a different type of mouthguard — one that is designed to prevent your top and bottom teeth from harming one another.
Use Tools, Not Teeth, to Open Packaging
Teeth are extremely durable. However, they are not invincible. If you use them for purposes for which they are not intended — for example, if you use them to tear open packages or trim your fingernails — they could easily break. Instead of subjecting your teeth to that kind of force, consider carrying a small multi-tool with you that you can access when you need to open a box, bag, or another type of container.
Dental Emergency FAQs
Our team is always ready to serve as your emergency dentist in Abington. However, we understand if you want to learn more about various urgent oral health situations before you choose to trust us with your care. Below, you will find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about emergency dental care. If you do not see the information you were hoping for, reach out to us directly. We look forward to speaking with you.
Will My Toothache Go Away on Its Own?
Teeth cannot heal themselves, so it is highly unlikely that your toothache will go away on its own. However, there are a few exceptions to the rule. For example, if your pain is emanating from a structure near a tooth, rather than the tooth itself, the issue may resolve without professional treatment. It is also possible for the nerve inside a tooth to die, meaning it can no longer send pain signals to your brain. That is not a good thing; the infection that caused the toothache in the first place may still be present. It could continue to spread into nearby tissues and eventually even threaten your overall health. Any type of tooth pain is a reason to see your dentist promptly.
Should I Visit the Emergency Room First for Dental Emergencies?
Most hospital emergency rooms do not have the equipment or training to effectively address a dental emergency in Abington. Generally speaking, any oral problems should be addressed by a dentist from the get-go. There are a few exceptions, though. If you have a broken jaw, dislocated jaw, uncontrolled bleeding from the mouth, difficulty breathing, or any other life-threatening symptoms, you should head to the ER right away. After they provide initial care, you can visit us later for follow-up treatment.
Should Knocked-Out Teeth Be Placed in Water?
It is important to keep a knocked-out tooth moist, and water might seem like a convenient means of doing so. However, while it is fine to rinse a tooth with water, it should not be stored in the water. The water could damage the tooth’s root surface cells, lowering the chances that replantation will be possible. It is best to insert a knocked-out tooth back into its socket or between the gums and cheek. You could also submerge the tooth in milk or a saline solution if it is too uncomfortable to store it in your mouth.
What Should I Keep in My Emergency Dentistry Kit?
Having the following items on-hand will help you to address dental emergencies as effectively as possible:
- A small storage container with a lid
- Sterile gloves
- Dressings, gauze pads, and cotton balls
- Dental cement or a similar product
- A topical anesthetic designed for use in the mouth
- Denture adhesive
- Orthodontic wax
- Pain medication (an anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen works well)
- An ice pack
- Floss
- Contact information for our dental practice
- An updated list of your current medical conditions and medications
How Should I Sleep with Tooth Pain?
A toothache can cause some of the most persistent, distracting pain there is. Sleeping with one is often challenging or even impossible. Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to minimize the pain and hopefully get some good shuteye:
- Keep your head elevated on a few pillows to prevent too much blood from gathering around the painful area and intensifying the toothache.
- Take an over the counter pain reliever, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, to reduce your discomfort. Be sure to follow any dosage instructions on the product’s label.
- Apply a cold compress to the side of your face. Be sure not to leave ice on your skin for an extended period of time, though; any cold objects should be removed before you drift off to sleep.
My Chipped Tooth Does Not Hurt. Do I Still Need to Visit?
Even if your chipped tooth does not hurt, you should still schedule a visit with your emergency dentist in Abington as soon as you can, preferably within a day or two of when the damage occurred. Our team will examine the tooth to determine the extent of the problem and recommend your next steps. For example, placing bonding on it can protect your soft oral tissues from the tooth’s jagged edges. It can also reduce the risk that the tooth will suffer further breakage in the future.
Are Knocked-Out Baby Teeth a Dental Emergency?
Although baby teeth are designed to come out eventually on their own, getting one knocked out prematurely constitutes a dental emergency in Abington. There could be damage to the nearby tissues that needs to be addressed. Plus, early removal of the baby teeth could adversely affect the development of the adult teeth. It is best to seek care as soon as possible. Even though our team may not try to reattach the baby tooth, we will treat the damage to the mouth and guide you on how to manage the situation.
Can Superglue Be Used to Repair Broken Dentures?
You should never use superglue to repair broken dentures. Superglue often contains toxic chemicals, which could cause you to become sick or, in some patients, spark an allergic reaction. Even if you do not become ill, the glue could still affect the way food tastes. Additionally, even though superglue is strong, it is not meant to thrive in a moist environment; it is unlikely to last for very long on your dentures.
Instead of attempting DIY repairs on your prosthetic, bring it to us. We will do all we can to get it back in working order as soon as possible.
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