When Do You Need To See an Emergency Dentist in Springfield Right Away?

There you are, going about your day just like any other, when all of the sudden…bam! Out of nowhere, you find yourself dealing with a dental emergency. Maybe you cracked a tooth during a meal or knocked out a tooth playing softball. There are countless possible scenarios, but they all share one thing in common: They’re scary! Not to mention that most people aren’t sure if they should wait to call a dentist or seek out care immediately. Keep reading to learn why the first step is to call an emergency dentist in Springfield right away and how you should handle the most common situations until you can get professional care. You can’t plan for emergencies, but you can be prepared!

How Should You Handle the Most Common Dental Emergencies?

In nearly any type of dental emergency, the first step is to call a dentist and let them know what has happened (although there are a couple of exceptions to this).

If you suspect that you’ve broken your jaw or have heavy bleeding that doesn’t subside after applying pressure for 15 minutes, go to the nearest emergency room or urgent care center for medical attention.

After you’ve been stabilized, you can call a restorative dentist in Springfield for any dental work that may need to be done.

Aside from those two exceptions, always call an emergency dentist first and take the following steps until you can be seen:

• Broken tooth – Gently rinse your mouth out and save any large pieces of your tooth if you can. If you have a sharp edge, you can use dental wax from the drug store to temporarily seal over it. Take over-the-counter pain medication as directed until your appointment.
• Toothache or abscess – A toothache or abscess usually means that there’s an infection present, which can be very dangerous if it’s left untreated. Apply a cold compress to the outside of your face and take over-the-counter medication for pain until your visit.
• Knocked-out tooth – If you’ve knocked out a tooth, your best chance of saving it is seeing a dentist within 30-60 minutes. As for immediate care, start by gently rinsing the tooth off, making sure not to touch the root. Then try to put it back in its socket (facing the right way). Otherwise, you can keep it in your cheek pouch or a glass of milk or water. The most important thing is that it stays clean and moist until your appointment.

What Should You Look For In an Emergency Dentist?

Emergencies rarely happen at convenient times, so it’s incredibly helpful if you can see a dentist in Springfield who has late and weekend hours.

You also want to be sure they make emergencies a priority by making every effort to see you immediately. Even if you can’t be seen right away (e.g. during late night hours), they should at least give you helpful advice and talk you through your situation.

Dental emergencies are incredibly stressful, but rest assured that the right emergency dentist will provide great care and get you out of pain as soon as possible!

About the Author

Dr. Victoria Driskill is a general, restorative and emergency dentist in Springfield who combines her years of experience with a caring chairside manner to put even the most frazzled patients at ease. With late weekday hours as well as Saturday hours, she and her colleagues have made it a priority to be available for emergencies as much as possible. If you have any additional questions, she can be reached via her website or at (217) 546-3333.