Emergency Dentistry Specialist

What is emergency dentistry?

Emergency dentistry treats potentially serious but non-life-threatening oral health problems. If you or a loved one experiences a dental emergency, contact Personal Touch Dentistry right away. 

Making it to the office within an hour of your first symptoms could mean the difference between preserving your smile and needing to undergo a complex oral surgery.

To ensure individuals receive care when they need it, Dr. Antonio offers after-hours and same-day emergency dental appointments.

What types of issues does emergency dentistry treat?

Dr. Antonio uses emergency dentistry to treat a variety of common issues, including:

• Severe toothaches
• Gum disease
• Cracked, chipped, or fractured teeth
• Knocked-out teeth
• Oral abscesses
• Cuts and lacerations that won’t stop bleeding
• Broken or lost dental restorations
• Jaw fractures
• Oral trauma

You might also benefit from emergency dentistry if you experience persistent jaw or facial pain due to a temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ).

How do I handle a dental emergency?

No two dental emergencies are exactly alike. Here are a few recommendations from Dr. Antonio to address common dental emergencies:

Severe toothache

If you develop a severe toothache, gently brush and floss the tooth and rinse your mouth with warm water. If the pain continues or gets worse, make an appointment at Personal Touch Dentistry right away.

If your toothache is due to an untreated cavity, Dr. Antonio might recommend a root canal. During a root canal, she removes the center of your tooth, fills it with a rubbery material called gutta-percha, and places a crown on top. The process eases the pain and prevents the need for an extraction.

Cut tongue, lip, or cheek

If you cut your mouth, apply pressure with a washcloth or piece of gauze to stop the bleeding. When the bleeding stops, replace the washcloth with an ice pack to reduce swelling. If the bleeding returns, call Personal Touch Dentistry or visit your local emergency room.

Knocked-out permanent tooth

If you lose a permanent tooth, pick it up by the crown and rinse it with water. Place the tooth back in its socket and bite down on clean gauze to hold it in place. If the tooth wobbles, tuck it inside your cheek and visit Personal Touch Dentistry.

Broken or fractured teeth

If you break or fracture a tooth, collect the pieces and put them in a glass of milk. Then, call Dr. Antonio right away. 

How can I lower the risk of a dental emergency?

To prevent a dental emergency, practice good oral hygiene. Dr. Antonio recommends brushing and flossing daily and visiting Personal Touch Dentistry two times a year for an oral exam and professional teeth cleaning.

To protect your teeth, avoid bad habits like opening objects with them or chewing on ice cubes. You might also want to wear a mouthguard if you play contact sports like football, rugby, or lacrosse.

To receive emergency dentistry, make an appointment at Personal Touch Dentistry. Call the office and speak with a helpful staff member or book online today.