Are you in the midst of a dental emergency in South Portland? If you’re in need of urgent oral care, don’t hesitate to reach out to our dental office so we can schedule an appointment for you as soon as possible. When you call us, our team will provide you with over-the-phone first-aid guidance and make sure that you’re not at-risk of sustaining even more damage to your smile. Dr. Parét will use the latest technology and techniques to provide you with fast and pain-relieving emergency dentistry in our South Portland, ME dental office to restore your oral health and help you enjoy the rest of the day.
How to Handle Common Dental Emergencies
Dental emergencies always seem to happen at the most unexpected and least convenient moments, making it hard to make the best decisions for your oral health. That’s why we recommend always calling our dental office or leaving us a message whenever you’re experiencing any out-of-the-ordinary oral symptoms. Below, we’ve also included some basic tips to help you prepare for your appointment with us.
Toothaches
Toothaches are often a sign of an infection hidden deep beneath the surface of your enamel. After gently flossing around each of your teeth and making sure that no lodged food debris is causing your pain, place a cold compress on the outside of your mouth. You can also take an over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen.
Chipped/Broken Teeth
If you’re able to retrieve the broken-off piece of your tooth, gently rinse it under some cool water and store it in a container to bring to your appointment. If the damage created a jagged edge of your tooth, you can place a piece of orthodontic wax over it to keep it from scraping or irritating your oral tissues.
Learn About Tooth Extractions
Knocked-Out Tooth
If trauma caused your tooth to fall out, it’s important to act quickly. Retrieve your tooth, being sure to only handle it by the biting surface and rinse it under cool water. Place it in a sealable container of milk or saltwater to keep the tooth viable and bring it to your appointment.
Lost Filling/Crown
If you’re able to find a lost restoration, you can temporarily place it back on your tooth after rinsing it off by using a dab of denture adhesive or toothpaste. However, you’ll need to visit our dental office as soon as possible so we can repair or replace your crown or filling and prevent an infection from developing.
How to Prevent Dental Emergencies
Although you can’t completely prevent a dental emergency from occurring, there are some ways that you can reduce your risk of experiencing one. These include:
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Maintaining a nutritious diet
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Brushing and flossing your teeth every day
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Coming to our dental office every six months for your checkups and cleanings
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Avoid using your teeth to open packages, chew on fingernails, etc.
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Stay hydrated with water
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Avoid eating foods that are chewy, hard, and sticky
Cost of Treating Dental Emergencies
When you get to our dental office, we’ll conduct a fast and thorough examination of your mouth to determine any underlying issues that could be causing you pain or discomfort. As soon as we come up with a diagnosis, we’ll develop a treatment plan to provide you with lasting relief and get your oral health back on the right track. Before we move forward with the treatments, we’ll make sure to keep you in the loop and discuss pricing and financing details with you. If you have any questions about insurance coverage or additional financing, don’t hesitate to ask any of our dental professionals.