Emergency Dentist Keokuk

Is My Toothache a Dental Emergency?

A toothache may be a dental emergency depending on what causes it. If you notice symptoms like swelling, redness, fever, fatigue, chills, a foul taste in your mouth, or pain severe enough to interfere with your daily activities, please contact Keokuk Family Dentistry.

How You Should Handle a Toothache:

Begin by thoroughly brushing and flossing to eliminate food debris that may be causing pain between the teeth. If this doesn’t work, use over-the-counter pain medication or an oral analgesic. Do not attempt to pop any growths that appear in the soft tissues supporting the troubled tooth or apply aspirin directly to the teeth or gums.

How We Treat Toothaches:

We’ll begin by thoroughly examining your mouth to determine the source of the problem. Once we understand what is causing your pain, we will be able to address it with an appropriate method like a filling, a root canal, or gum disease treatment. If the tooth cannot be saved, we’ll have to extract it and consider a suitable replacement.

Is a Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency?

A mildly chipped tooth can usually afford to wait a few days before receiving treatment, but it’s important to eventually have the staff at Keokuk Family Dentistry examine the damage and address it if necessary. Neglecting to treat a chipped tooth can lead to injury and infection.

How You Should Handle a Chipped Tooth:

If you can locate any pieces broken from your tooth, store them in a clean container so you can bring them to our office. Rinse your mouth with warm saltwater to ease inflammation, flush away food debris, and kill germs and refrain from using your injured tooth to chew. You may be able to cover the injury with dental wax or sugar-free gum to reduce sensitivity.

How We Treat Chipped Teeth: 

We can often repair chipped teeth with tooth-colored composite resin. However, it may be best to address severe damage with a crown or a veneer.

Is a Cracked Tooth a Dental Emergency?

Minor cracks are not usually dental emergencies, but large cracks require immediate treatment at our office, especially if they extend beneath the gumline. Some cracks may be too small to see, so you may have hidden damage if you experience dental sensitivity or discomfort when biting down.

How You Should Handle a Cracked Tooth:

Begin by rinsing your mouth with warm saltwater to ease inflammation, loosen food debris, and kill harmful bacteria. If necessary, apply a cold compress or take over-the-counter pain relievers. Avoid chewing on the injured side of the mouth, and you can use dental wax or sugar-free gum to cover the damaged area if it is especially sensitive.

How We Treat Cracked Teeth: 

We can usually treat mild cracks with dental bonding and severe cracks with dental crowns. However, a tooth that is damaged beyond repair will have to be extracted and replaced.