Emergency Dentistry – Newark, DE

Dental Accidents & Facial Trauma

Dental injuries tend to happen very abruptly, whether they lead to a chipped tooth, a painful fracture, or even the loss of one or more teeth entirely. In these scary situations, it’s important to stay calm and contact White Clay Dental Associates for further assistance as soon as you possibly can. Here are some tips on how to best manage your case in the interim:

• Gently rinse the mouth with warm water.
• If your mouth is starting to swell, holding a cold compress to the side of your face can provide some relief.
• It’s safe to take painkillers, but do NOT apply them directly to the tooth or gum surfaces, as this could cause further harm.
• If a tooth has been fully dislodged, try putting it back into its original socket and hold it in place. Otherwise, put it in a container of milk or water.

Dental Emergencies Due to Oral Care Neglect

If good brushing and flossing habits aren’t maintained over time, patients can start to develop excessive pain and sensitivity in specific areas of the mouth. The most likely cause of this is an infection that’s developed beneath the enamel’s surface. Alternatively, there may be something stuck between the gums near the tooth, such as a piece of stray food. We recommend that patients floss and rinse their mouths thoroughly to rule out the latter possibility before contacting our Newark, DE office. If the discomfort persists, please reach out to us right away – we can provide care to prevent any further spreading of the infection and ideally rescue the tooth, too.

Unparalleled Experience & Qualifications

At White Clay Dental Associates, Dr. Bond and Dr. Ganfield have many years of experience when it comes to navigating high-pressure emergency situations regarding the teeth and gums. Their advanced skillsets lend themselves well to lifelike dental reconstruction and lasting cosmetic improvement – plus, they’ll accommodate you quickly so that you’re never left waiting days or weeks for much-needed relief!

Tooth Extractions

While helping patients maintain a healthy smile with their own natural teeth is a chief goal for our dentists, there are certain circumstances that necessitate tooth extraction. Some patients having orthodontic treatment need to have one or more teeth removed. Others have teeth that have succumbed to severe decay or injury, while others need to have their wisdom teeth removed. At White Clay Dental Associates, we use the latest dental technology to extract teeth painlessly.

Learn About Tooth Extractions

Emergency Dentistry FAQs

Sadly, you can’t always stop dental emergencies from happening, but you can make sure you’re ready for them. If you still have questions, your emergency dentist in Newark has got answers; feel free to express any additional concerns you might have during your next appointment.

What Qualifies as a Dental Emergency?

If there’s an issue in your mouth that’s causing unbearable pain or discomfort, sudden swelling, or bleeding that won’t stop, it’s an emergency that needs to be addressed right away. The sooner you call our office, the better; many health issues are easier to address when they’re treated quickly.

In particular, a knocked-out tooth needs attention as soon as possible; in many cases we’ll be able to reimplant it, but the window of opportunity to do so is limited. You’ll have the best chance of saving it if you can get an appointment within the hour.

Do I Need to Go to the Emergency Room?

If you need immediate, life-saving treatment, you should go to your local emergency room right away. This can include oral and facial traumas such as a fractured or dislocated jaw, serious lacerations, and difficulties swallowing and breathing. For emergencies that aren’t immediately life-threatening, such as broken teeth, you should instead call your dentist in Newark. The doctors at the emergency room won’t be able to provide comprehensive dental care (though they might be able to provide antibiotics for temporary relief from toothaches caused by an infection); you’ll need a dentist with the training, expertise and tools necessary to help your tooth.

My Tooth is Broken but Doesn’t Hurt; Is It an Emergency?

Broken teeth don’t always cause immediate pain, but that doesn’t mean you can choose to ignore it. It’ll be easier for bacteria to reach the softer tissues under the enamel and reach the pulp, causing an infection. This can potentially lead to an infected pocket known as an abscess that can eventually spread to other body parts and cause complications. After a certain point, the tooth will be beyond saving and an extraction will be required.

By having a broken tooth treated as soon as possible, you stand a better chance of avoiding a severe infection and preserving the tooth.

Is a Sensitive Tooth an Emergency?

If you’ve suddenly started experiencing pain in your teeth whenever you eat hot or cold foods, it might be a sign of gum disease. When a gum infection is particularly severe, the gum tissue begins to pull away from the teeth, exposing the roots and increasing sensitivity.

Gum disease can ultimately lead to tooth loss if it’s left untreated and might even contribute to heart disease and other life-threatening problems. If you notice signs of gum recession, it could be a sign that the infection has already advanced; you should see your dentist as soon as possible to confirm the diagnosis.

How Can I Prepare for Dental Emergencies?

You can create a dental emergency kit so that you can react quickly. The first thing you should include is a card that says “Address and phone number of a dentist near me”; this information should always be immediately accessible. Other supplies might include saline solution, an empty container, dental wax, floss, pain medication and sterile gauze.