Emergency Dentist San Antonio

Is My Toothache a Dental Emergency? Although there are many potential causes for a toothache, no pain is considered ‘normal’. Your situation might require immediate attention if:

• The pain is severe or doesn’t fade after 24 hours.
• You have sharp tooth sensitivity that lasts more than 30 seconds.
• There’s a sharp, unpleasant sensation when you bite down.
• There’s a small bump on your gums near the affected tooth.
• The aching tooth looks darker than surrounding teeth.
• You have other symptoms of a serious infection like fever, swelling, or fatigue.

How You Should Handle a Toothache: Brush and floss gently to ensure a lodged object between your teeth isn’t causing your issue. Then, it’s usually safe to take over-the-counter medicines like Tylenol or ibuprofen to address soreness and inflammation. You can also try gently rinsing your mouth with salt water to disinfect bacteria and reduce discomfort.

How We Treat Toothaches: The treatment depends on the cause, so we’ll need to examine your mouth to identify the underlying issue. If it’s due to a cavity or gum disease, you may need a filling, root canal, or dental crown to address it. For those suffering from bruxism, or chronic teeth grinding, we can provide a nightguard to protect your teeth from the added pressure.

If your tooth is too decayed or injured to be effectively repaired, we might recommend an extraction and replacement.

Is a Cracked Tooth a Dental Emergency? Cracks in your teeth need to be assessed sooner rather than later because Dr. Sanchez can help determine the extent of the damage. Even if it looks small on the surface, it might go deeper than you think. Any damage that compromises the structure of your tooth leaves you vulnerable to additional injury or potential infection.

How You Should Handle a Cracked Tooth: Rinse your mouth with warm salt water to keep unwanted germs at bay. If your tooth feels tender, you can also apply a cold compress or take over-the-counter meds to reduce any aches and inflammation. Avoid eating or chewing with that side of your mouth to prevent worsening discomfort.

How We Treat Cracked Teeth: For minor fractures that exist in the surface layer of enamel, we might be able to apply color-matched composite resin to fill it in and restore your tooth’s functionality. Otherwise, we can provide a customized dental crown that’s bonded over your injured tooth so that you can continue to use it normally.

Is a Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency? Depending on the severity of your condition, your chipped tooth can potentially wait a few days before being treated. However, if you wait too long, you run the risk of potential additional damage, injury, or infection.

How You Should Handle a Chipped Tooth: If large pieces have broken off, do your best to locate them and store them in a clean container to bring with you to our office. Then, rinse your mouth with water to gently clear away debris and bacteria. Try to avoid biting anything with your injured tooth, and cover jagged edges with dental wax or sugar-free gum if necessary.

How We Treat Chipped Teeth: Frequently, chipped teeth can be restored with custom-colored composite resin that matches the shade of your natural ones. If the damage is causing aesthetic concerns with your smile, you might want to consider a cosmetic enhancement like veneers.

Is My Knocked-Out Tooth a Dental Emergency? If you’ve sustained an injury or bit into something too hard and a tooth has been dislodged, you should contact us right away to schedule a same-day appointment. The earlier you reach us, the better the chances of saving your tooth.

How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Tooth: Locate the tooth but remember to only handle it by the crown- the tooth shaped portion- and not the roots. This ensures that any viable cells remain intact so we might be able to place it back in its socket. Gently rinse it and place it in a small container with some milk or some of your saliva to keep it from drying out before you arrive.

How We Treat Knocked-Out Teeth: If the tooth is largely still in good condition, we might be able to place it back in its socket so it can reintegrate with your jaw. Otherwise, we will recommend an appropriate replacement based on your unique circumstances, like an implant, bridge, or dentures.

Are Very Sensitive Teeth a Dental Emergency? Overly sensitive teeth can occur for several reasons, and some are more urgent than others. For instance, it could be due to overly exposed roots from receding gums or weakening enamel. Mild cases may not require immediate attention but if your discomfort worsens or lasts multiple days, you may have a more serious underlying issue that needs to be addressed.

How You Should Handle Very Sensitive Teeth: First, contact our office so we can walk you through any special care tips over the phone and schedule your visit. Then, you can swish with lukewarm salt water to reduce aches and disinfect unwanted bacteria that might cause an infection. Avoid eating anything overly hot, cold, spicy, acidic, or sweet that could further trigger your tooth.

How We Treat Very Sensitive Teeth: The treatment will depend on what’s causing the problem. If your enamel is eroded, for example, we might recommend a topical fluoride treatment or desensitizing toothpaste. Otherwise, we’ll suggest the proper treatment for your issue, whether that means gum disease therapy, a root canal, or some other service.

Is a Lost Filling or Crown a Dental Emergency? Although dental restorations are typically resilient and can last 10+ years, they can wear down and eventually require replacements. That means your lost restoration may not necessarily constitute an emergency. However, your once-treated tooth is vulnerable to additional injury, decay, or disease without protection so you should all us right away.

How You Should Handle a Lost Filling or Crown: If possible, locate the lost restoration so you can bring it to your appointment. Those with lost dental crowns might have some luck with temporarily placing it back over your tooth using a small amount of dental cement, orthodontic wax, or toothpaste.

How We Treat Lost Fillings or Crowns: For newer restorations that fell out, if it’s in good condition then our team might be able to recement it to your tooth. Otherwise, we’ll suggest replacing your dental crown or filling to safeguard your smile.