Emergency Dental Care – Stop the Throbbing Pain!

Thankfully it’s not every day that you experience tooth pain, but when you have tooth pain, you know! If you’ve experienced tooth pain and throbbing, you can probably relate to how difficult it can be to get your mind off it. The good news is that it doesn’t have to stay this way.

It would be best if you didn’t live in pain, whether it strikes during the week or on the weekend. Seeing a dentist is the first step in relieving your dental pain, and at Riverside Dental, we help you with your dental emergencies.

What Symptoms Bring About A Dental Emergency?

Dental problems sometimes arise out of nowhere. Your teeth have been feeling fine, and suddenly you are experiencing symptoms that have you wondering what to do. If in doubt, it is always a good idea to call your dental office.

This list can be a helpful guide for you as you navigate your situation. You should seek out emergency care if you experience any of these situations:

• You have a loose tooth
• Your toothache is severe
• You notice your gums are bleeding and in pain
• You have a tooth with an abscess
• Your jaw is swollen
• Your canker sore hasn’t improved, and it has been two weeks.

What Should You Expect If You Come In For A Dental Emergency?

A dental emergency appointment differs from seeing your dental hygienist for preventative services. You have a problem, and our goal is to find what is causing it and get you a solution.

Our trained dental team will do an exam and any diagnostic tests to help diagnose your tooth concerns. They may take intra-oral pictures as well as any x-rays that are also beneficial. We will update your medical and dental history with you and ask you a series of questions about your dental emergency.

Following this, our dentist will go over their findings with you and what can be done about your particular situation. Usually, you will be scheduled to come back for treatment.

Alleviating The Pain

If you are in great pain, our dental team may suggest some or several of these ways to manage your tooth pain. While some of these things can be tried on your own, we recommend that you see a dentist if you are experiencing any of the above dental symptoms.

Taking an over-the-counter pain reliever can help to alleviate pressure or swelling due to infection. Again, taking such a pain reliever isn’t meant to be a long-term solution. If you have an infection, you need to be seen by your dentist.

Swishing your mouth with salt water can help soothe irritated gum tissue and promote healing. Swishing with salt water is not a treatment option for something like gum tissue, as more involved treatment is needed.

An ice pack can help if you have a swollen jaw or inflamed area.

Keeping your head elevated may help you to rest better if you are experiencing a toothache or headache. Laying down can lead to more blood flow to these areas, which can increase pressure and pain even more.

Your dentist may prescribe an antibiotic for an infected tooth. This antibiotic will help calm the inflammation; within a few days, it should also significantly reduce the pain. If you have an infection, the tooth will likely still need treatment even though you are taking an antibiotic.

Got a dental emergency? Don’t freak out and remain calm. We help our patients through dental emergencies all the time.

Whether it’s day or night that you have a dental emergency, call our office. Riverside dentists are here to help you with all your dental needs and emergencies!