It’s a beautiful day in Sacramento as you skate up and down the streets in your neighborhood. As you whip around the corner, the wind is blowing in your hair and you feel completely in the zone. The next moment you’re flying through the air and slamming face-first onto the pavement.

You put your hand to your mouth and taste blood. Your tooth has cracked. If you’re unsure what to do in this situation, take a moment to learn some tips from your emergency dentist in Sacramento.

How to Determine if You’re Having a Dental Emergency

There are many examples that constitute as a dental emergency, so keep these situations in mind throughout your day. One of the more obvious ones is a physical accident, such as a bad fall or other trauma experienced from high impact. If you notice your mouth is bleeding or you have teeth that are chipped, cracked, broken, or falling out, urgent care will likely be needed.

If you notice something is stuck in your mouth because of an injury, the foreign object needs to be removed promptly before it spreads bacteria to the wound. Pain while biting down will also need to be addressed especially after a recent injury.

Dental emergencies can also occur if:

• Your face experiences swelling
• You have a gum or tooth abscess
• You’re injured in a dental procedure

How to Handle a Current Dental Emergency

In the case of an injury, you should get your dentist as soon as possible. Until you make it to the dentist, take note of how to address the following emergencies:

• Face swelling – See your dentist right away as swelling indicates a possible infection. Avoid lying down and drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated and avoid further complications.
• Knocked out tooth – Pick your tooth up by the crown and avoid touching the root. After washing the crown, try to place the tooth back in your socket. If this is not possible, keep the tooth in container filled with milk or saltwater to keep it from drying out. See your dentist asap.
• Broken, cracked, chipped tooth – Schedule an appointment with your dentist to get necessary work done. This could be a filling, crown, or extraction depending on the severity.
• Bleeding – If you always bleed while flossing or brushing, it needs to be addressed by a dentist. Be more sensitive while you brush and switch to a softer brush until your appointment.
• Gum Abscess – See your emergency dentist in Sacramento immediately. Do not touch or attempt to pop the abscess and keep brushing and flossing as usual.
• Tooth Abscess – Make an appointment for the next day. Try to schedule an appointment with an endodontist if your dentist isn’t available.
• Pain while biting or toothache – Avoid chewing on the side of your mouth where pain is coming from. Schedule an appointment with your dentist for the next day to address any underlying issues.

Don’t put off your dental emergency. Your emergency dentist in Sacramento is here to help!

About the Author

Dr. Scott Grivas, DDS, became a registered nurse at Southern Adventist University before earning his Doctor of Dental Surgery from Loma Linda University School of Dentistry. He continues his education through education courses at the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies as well as the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation training. To learn more, contact his practice at (916) 571-0815 or visit his website.