Millions of people suffer from painful oral health emergencies every year. While the team at Compassionate Endodontists New York/NYC provides comprehensive urgent care for people throughout New York City, it’s also important to know what you should do while waiting for care. Here, learn important tips focused on relieving discomfort as quickly as possible, while also preventing further complications.
Many people think urgent care is reserved for very serious oral health problems, but that’s not the case. Urgent care is appropriate for any oral health issue that’s causing persistent or recurrent pain or interfering with normal function or activities, like eating.
In general, urgent care issues include common and uncommon problems like:
All these issues require prompt or immediate care to prevent them from getting worse.
Visiting our team as quickly as you can is important for managing urgent care needs, but there are steps you can — and should —take, too.
Broken teeth can be caused by traumas like falls, sports injuries, or motor vehicle accidents, but they can also happen if you bite on something hard, like ice or hard candy. Teeth already weakened by cavities or large fillings tend to be more susceptible to fractures, too.
Even a tiny crack or chip is enough to let bacteria get inside your tooth, increasing the risks of serious infections and tooth loss. If you break a tooth, take an over-the-counter medication for pain and use a little dental wax or sugarless gum to seal the area and cover jagged tooth edges until you can get to our office.
Teeth lost to decay need urgent treatment to prevent dangerous infections. When a tooth is knocked out, you need emergency treatment focused not only on preventing complications, but also on potentially replanting the tooth into its socket.
Pick up your tooth without touching the roots and gently rinse it with cool water to get rid of any dirt. Then place it back in its socket if possible or between your cheek and gum. If you can’t hold it in your mouth, place it in a cup of milk or saliva (tap water may contain damaging chlorine). Seek care right away; even a minor delay could mean the tooth cannot be replanted.
Sometimes, a filling, crown, or other restoration loosens, breaks, or falls out. If that happens, expect the tooth to be extra sensitive to any type of stimulation, including food, liquids, and even the air.
You can lessen discomfort by taking an over-the-counter medicine to control pain and covering the tooth with dental wax to protect it until your appointment. Bring any pieces of the restoration with you to your office visit if you can.
Your gums play a critical role in protecting your tooth roots and your jaw bone, too. A cut or laceration in your gum tissue increases the risk of infection in addition to causing pain and swelling.
If you have a cut in your gum tissue or on the inside of your cheek, gently rinse your mouth with warm water, antiseptic mouthwash, or a mild salt solution to clean the area and kill germs. Apply pressure using a clean piece of gauze or a wet tea bag while waiting to be seen by our team.
Lots of issues can cause tooth pain, but regardless of the underlying issue, one thing is certain: Tooth pain is never normal. Calling the office at the first sign of pain ensures you receive appropriate treatment to relieve symptoms and prevent further complications.
You can lessen painful symptoms with over-the-counter pain relievers and by applying a cold compress to your cheek. Clove oil and toothache gels or liquids may also provide temporary relief until your visit.
Just like you, our team is dedicated to helping maintain your oral health through every stage of life. If you have any sort of urgent care need or any unusual symptom that affects your teeth, gums, or oral function, don’t put off seeking care. all 929-229-0255 or book an appointment online at Compassionate Endodontists New York/NYC today, and learn how we can help.
