Emergency Dentistry Specialist

What is emergency dentistry?

Emergency dentistry is a branch of oral health care focused on diagnosing and treating issues that require immediate medical attention.

Dental emergencies happen for a variety of reasons, including sports-related injuries, automobile accidents, and damaged braces. 

You might also benefit from emergency dentistry if you damage a tooth after biting down on a hard object like a popcorn kernel or candy, or if you knock out or loosen a tooth after falling or running into something.

Ultimately, the goal of emergency dentistry is to limit the pain and preserve your permanent teeth.

What types of issues does emergency dentistry treat?

The team at Varinos Dental Associates of Newburyport treats a wide variety of dental emergencies, including:

• Severe toothaches
• Tooth sensitivity
• Lost or broken fillings
• Lost or broken crowns
• Chipped teeth
• Cracked teeth
• Knocked-out teeth
• Cuts or tears in your mouth
• Dental abscesses

You might also benefit from emergency dentistry if you knock out a dental implant.

What steps should I take if I knock out a tooth?

If you knock out one or more of your permanent teeth, it’s important to act as quickly as possible. Making it to Varinos Dental Associates of Newburyport within an hour of your injury could mean the difference between saving and losing your tooth.

First, carefully pick up your tooth by the crown and hold it under cool tap water to rinse off any debris and bacteria. 

After rinsing your tooth, try and stick it back in the socket. If it won’t stay in place, fill up a glass with milk and soak your tooth in it, or you can tuck your tooth inside your cheek.

Next, call the team at Varinos Dental Associates of Newburyport and explain what happened. The team makes room for same-day appointments and will work to get you in right away.

Is there any way to prevent a dental emergency?

There’s no way to prevent the need for emergency dentistry entirely, but you can significantly lower your risk by wearing appropriate protective gear.

For example, if you enjoy skateboarding or playing contact sports like hockey or football, always wear a mouthguard. 

If you grind your teeth at night, you could benefit from a night guard that prevents wear-and-tear damage. It’s also important to avoid bad habits like chewing on ice or biting your fingernails.

The team at Varinos Dental Associates of Newburyport hopes you never need emergency dentistry, but if you do, they’re standing by. Call the office or walk in during normal business hours to access emergency dental care today.