Ask the Boca Raton Emergency Dentist

WHAT DO I DO IN A DENTAL EMERGENCY?

We at Tower Dentistry are pleased to announce that we have added Emergency Dental Services to our full suite of dentist services offered to the Boca Raton community.

We will be launching a new web site soon dedicated to emergency dental needs.

As a way of showing our commitment to you and your family as you encounter the unfortunate and sometimes inevitable emergency dental services, we offer the following tips and guidelines for early action on dental emergencies.

I bit my Tongue (lips, cheek, etc.)

Be Gentle! Rinse the injury with tepid (not cold not hot) water or blot (do not wipe) with a cloth or damp gauze from a first aid kit. To minimize swelling use a cold pack or crushed ice in a Ziploc (if you are too sensitive to the cold, wrap the ice bag in paper towels). If bleeding does not stop, apply pressure with cool wet gauze or teabag. Take appropriate pain medication.

I Have Bleeding Gums:

This is typically associated with periodontal (gum) disease. Minimize bleeding by brushing twice daily for a few minutes (don’t be stingy), floss daily, clean your tongue and visit your dentist for regular checkups. Very rarely, persistent bleeding gums are an early warning sign for leukemia.

I Have Canker Sores Help Me!

Keeping the area clean is very important. Rinse with salt water, and use gentle tooth brushing. Healing should occur in about 2 weeks. Avoid acidic, hot and spicy foods and drink. If needed, take pain medications and give us a call for an assessment. Do not apply any pain medication to the area.

MY TOOTH BROKE!

Gently rinse area with water (salt water if possible). Get any bleeding under control with a cool wet gauze or teabag (apply pressure to the bleeding gums, not the tooth). Do not remove fractured pieces and save all fragments. Take the appropriate pain medication and see your dentist right away.

OH NO! I’ve got a Gum Boil:

Don’t Panic! Keep the area clean just like a canker sore - gentle tooth brushing and salt water rinse. Consider cool compresses and pain medications. NEVER EVER EVER try to pop the boil. You may need to be put on antibiotics. See us as soon as possible.

That @)$(*_)# Knocked out My Tooth!

Save the tooth even if in pieces in a saline solution (salt water), or use a contact lens solution, you can even use milk or water. Follow the same instructions as a broken tooth, using pressure with cool wet gauze or teabag. Take pain medication. Do not clean the area as the tissue fragments will help the healing process if the tooth can be reinserted. Be gentle with the developing clot, no spitting, smoking don’t drink out of a straw. You must get to a dentist within 60 minutes to have any real chance of saving the tooth.

My Baby’s loosing a tooth!

If the child can wiggle the tooth out...great! Tell her or him to move the tooth in all directions, but do not use large forces (no string on a door knob PLEASE). Slow and steady is the way. If both the adult tooth and baby tooth are visible you need to see us for an assessment.

Baby Has Teething Pains:

Freeze or chill some baby carrots and apply them to the area. Ice chips in a Ziploc or cloth is also good. Some mild pain relievers and teeth gel (follow the instructions closely, do not overuse) can help.

OWWWWWW MY TOOTH HURTS! I Got A Toothache:

Don’t Use The Tooth – at least as much as possible. That means no biting, or food items in the area, avoid hot and cold drinks. If pain increases and swelling occurs, use a cold compress. Take pain medications as needed, and come to see us as soon as possible, you will likely have to take antibiotics.

My Wisdom Teeth are killing me!

Keep the area as clean as possible by simply brushing your teeth and rinsing with warm salt water. If there’s swelling, or if the pain increases, a cool compress and pain medications will help. You may need to be put on antibiotics and the tooth/teeth will likely need to come out. Give us a call immediately

What Exactly do you Mean by Pain Medication?

In general, Advil (Motrin/Ibuprofen) 200mg every 4-6 hours should help pain and inflammation. Tylenol (Acetaminophen) 325mg every 4-6 hours is a good secondary alternative. These are ADULT dosages – check with your pharmacy for children’s equivalents. Please review any allergies with your physician/dentist to these medications before using them. We can prescribe higher doses and different pain medications once an assessment of your situation is completed.