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Act Quickly For Better Results In A Dental Emergency

What should you do in each of these dental emergencies?
► Waking up with a massive toothache
▶︎ Losing a dental crown after getting struck in the face with a ball
► Breaking or cracking a tooth after you bite into something hard
All three situations will require different responses, but there is one thing you should do in any dental emergency. You should call (503) 809-4784 to reach our dentist office if you live in or near Salem, OR.
For existing patients, we provide an emergency contact number so you can reach Dr. Hanson even faster. He can walk you through what to do and make arrangements to meet while you are on the phone.
Don’t delay during any dental emergency. Call Oregon Smile Care Center to get help as soon as possible.
 
Dental Emergency Care
Hopefully, you will never need this information, but we want you to be prepared in case the need arises. Here are some things you can do before you get to the dentist office to deal with the dental emergencies mentioned above.
 
▶︎ Sudden Toothache
The first thing you want to do is rule out the simplest possible problem, that something is stuck. Get some dental floss, and clean the spaces around the aching tooth. If something comes loose, this could alleviate your pain.
If that doesn’t help, then you could have an infected tooth. In that case, you will want to get to our office right away.
You can try taking an over-the-counter pain reliever. You also may want to apply a cold pack or ice pack to numb the pain and reduce swelling.
At the dentist office, Dr. Hanson will be able to examine the tooth more closely to determine whether a root canal treatment or other solution will be the best way to alleviate the pain you are experiencing.
Prevention options: The best prevention against a toothache is to follow the American Dental Association’s recommendation for oral care.
Brush your teeth twice each day for two minutes each time. Clean between your teeth and gums daily with dental floss or another interdental cleaner.
And visit Oregon Smile Care Center a couple times each year for professional cleanings. Together your home care and our professional care will reduce your risk of gum disease and tooth decay, both of which can lead to tooth infections.
 
▶︎ Losing A Crown
A traumatic impact like what we describe earlier is one way you could lose a dental crown. It’s not the only way, but it is one of the most common reasons this type of dental emergency occurs.
First, find the crown. Rinse the outside and the inside of the dental crown remove any dirt and rinse your mouth as well. Replace the crown as soon as possible to protect the sensitive parts of your teeth that have been exposed.
Denture adhesive or tooth cement should be applied to the inside of the crown. This will form a temporary bond to help it stay in place until you can see the dentist.
Prevention options: We encourage anyone who participates in high-impact sports to wear a custom-fitted athletic mouthguard. This can help protect your teeth and your tooth replacements.
We can create one of these mouthguards for you here at Oregon Smile Care Center.
 
▶︎ A Broken Or Cracked Tooth
Biting down on something hard or crunchy can be a satisfying experience unless it’s followed by the pain associated with at cracked or broken tooth.
A pain reliever may be in order. Again, ice or cold could reduce swelling and numb the pain you may be feeling.
Prevention options: This is a little trickier. You could avoid eating all hard or crunchy foods, but you may not anticipate biting into an unpopped kernel of popcorn, for example.
Athletic mouthguards can help prevent broken teeth during sports, but that’s not going to help when you are eating. Our best advice to avoid biting into foods that are too hard or too crunchy whenever possible.
 
Your Emergency Care Dentist
Like the fire department, we hope neither you nor your loved ones ever need to contact us for emergency dental care. We will be ready and willing to help if you do, however.
You can reach Oregon Smile Care Center at (503) 809-4784. We’ll get you in touch with our dentist, Dr. Hanson, as soon as possible.
We also encourage you to keep up your routine dental care and to wear athletic mouthguards during high-impact sports and exercise. These steps can go a long way toward preventing many potential dental emergencies.

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