When to Contact Your Marco Island Dentist for Emergency Oral Care
Whether through accident, disease or unknown causes, dental emergencies can arise anytime. In the interest of avoiding pain and preventing the potential spread of any oral-related damage or disease, you should always seek emergency dental treatment for oral injuries and rapid-onset emergence of oral pain. The dental experts at Island Tower Dentistry in Marco Island, provide emergency dental treatment to patients in southwest Florida, as well as to seasonal residents or anyone in need of emergency oral care.
What Constitutes a “Dental Emergency?”
Some cases of oral trauma obviously present themselves as an emergency situation, but sometimes determining whether oral trauma or unusual pain constitutes an emergency is a subjective call. In general, the following issues may fall under the rubric of emergency and require quick attention by a dental professional:
- Knocked-out tooth or teeth
- Cracked or chipped tooth
- Severe oral pain
- Intense swelling in the jaw area
- Broken bridge work
- Lost filling or crown
Many people decide to tough it out when faced with some of these problems, deeming the trauma or pain as not severe enough to warrant emergency treatment. While perhaps not life-threatening, these problems could be further compromising your oral health and oral pain can certainly impact your overall well-being. Emergency dental services, as offered by Island Tower Dentistry, can typically fit in non-scheduled emergency examinations during regular business hours and provide emergency treatment during off-office hours as warranted by the situation.
Whatever problem you might be experiencing, toughing it out is the wrong response. No matter when the problem arises, treat it as an emergency rather than trying to schedule a standard appointment that might not be booked for a few days or a week or two. By declaring it a potential emergency, your emergency dental office can consult with you on the phone to determine the best course of action. This might mean an immediate office visit, even during off-hours, or your emergency dentist might determine that your issue can await treatment first thing in the morning during regular office hours. Whatever the case, your dentist will typically want to address the problem within 24 hours.
Steps to Take When Experiencing a Dental Emergency
If you’re faced with a potential dental emergency, there are a number of steps you should take to resolve the problem. Naturally, if you have experienced severe oral trauma that includes broken bones, excessive bleeding, deep lacerations, and or extensive tooth loss, you should seek medical care from your local hospital’s emergency department. Barring that, you should contact your emergency dentist, and follow their directions.
If an accident has dislodged a tooth or several teeth, you can put the teeth in milk and pack any tooth sockets with gauze or cotton. If you have chipped, cracked or broken a tooth, try to find and save any pieces, if possible.
For severe pain, take over-the-counter pain medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, or as otherwise directed by your emergency dentist consultation. You can also rinse your mouth with warm salt water, with a good mixture containing a half teaspoon of salt per eight ounces of water. Cold compresses can help ease pain and reduce swelling.
Island Tower Dentistry Specializes in Emergency Dentistry
The dental-care experts at Island Tower Dentistry have long considered emergency dental services to be a core part of their practice. Whether as a result of trauma, disease, or unknown causes, our Marco Island, Florida office stands ready to address any dental emergency. To learn more about how the Island Tower team can help you quickly resolve your emergency oral health concerns, contact us today at 239-394-1004 for a consultation. If calling during non-office hours, listen carefully to the recorded message for information on how to reach our emergency dentists.