Emergency Dentistry – Saratoga Springs, NY

Toothaches

Is my toothache a dental emergency?

There are many reasons why you could be experiencing a toothache. It could be the result of something minor, or it could be a more problematic issue that needs to be addressed immediately. If you have a toothache that is sharp, throbbing, or accompanied by a small, pimple-like bump on the gums, you should schedule a visit with us right away.

How you should handle a toothache:

If you have a toothache, begin by rinsing your mouth with water and flossing around the tooth. You may want to swish some saltwater around your mouth to disinfect the area and reduce inflammation. To numb any soreness, try using an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed and apply a cold compress. Give us a call to schedule your appointment.

How we treat toothaches:

Before you can treat your toothache, we will need to determine why you are experiencing pain. In many cases, a toothache can be treated with a filling or dental crown. In more severe situations, gum disease therapy, root canal therapy, or an extraction may be necessary. We can determine the best way to treat your smile when you visit our practice.

Learn More About Root Canal Therapy

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Learn More About Gum Disease Treatment

Chipped Tooth

Is a chipped tooth a dental emergency?

Chipped teeth aren’t usually a dental emergency, but you should still schedule an appointment with us within a few days. Even if your chip is small and not noticeable, leaving it without treatment can cause additional damage.

How you should handle a chipped tooth:

Start by rinsing your mouth with water. Collect larger pieces of your tooth if you can. When you come to the dental office, bring them with you. In the meantime, avoid chewing on the side of your mouth where the chip is located. If your tooth is sharp or jagged, apply some dental wax so you don’t accidentally cut your lip or cheek.

How we treat chipped teeth:

A lot of the time, chipped teeth can be repaired with dental bonding in a single appointment. However, if your chip is on a more visible tooth, like a front tooth, you may want to consider a longer-lasting cosmetic option, like a veneer.

Learn More About Dental Bonding

Learn More About Veneers

Cracked Tooth

Is a cracked tooth a dental emergency?

Cracked teeth can be very painful, and they leave your smile vulnerable to bacteria. In some cases, it can be difficult to see cracks in your teeth. If you notice that you have increased sensitivity or discomfort after biting down on something hard or taking a blow to the face, you may have cracked one or more of your teeth, so you should seek treatment as soon as you can.

How you should handle a cracked tooth:

You should start by rinsing your mouth with water. This helps to keep the area clean until you can receive treatment. Next, give us a call to schedule an emergency visit. If you notice swelling or are experiencing pain, this can be lessened with a cold compress and/or over-the-counter pain relievers.

How we treat cracked teeth:

The treatment we use for cracked teeth depends on how badly the tooth has been damaged. Minor cracks can sometimes be resolved with dental bonding, but more serious ones may require a tooth extraction. A lot of the time, cracked teeth can be treated by concealing them with dental crowns.

Learn More About Dental Bonding

Learn More About Dental Crowns

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Very Sensitive Teeth

Are Very Sensitive Teeth a Dental Emergency?: Tooth sensitivity is often a symptom of larger dental problems, so it’s important to figure out what’s causing it as soon as you can. If your sensitive teeth are causing you severe pain, or if the sensitivity lasts for a long time, you should call our office for an emergency appointment.

How You Should Handle Very Sensitive Teeth: There’s more than one reason why your teeth might be sensitive. When you call, our team can give you tips for managing the problem on your own. While you’re waiting for your appointment, make sure you stay away from spicy, acidic, or sweet foods that can irritate sensitive teeth.

How We Treat Very Sensitive Teeth:  We’ll examine your teeth and devise a treatment based on your situation. For weakened or eroded enamel, we may perform a topical fluoride treatment. We can also offer periodontal therapy if you have gum disease or root canal therapy if your tooth has become infected.

Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings

Learn More About Root Canal Therapy

Knocked-Out Tooth

Is My Knocked-Out Tooth a Dental Emergency?: Losing a permanent tooth is always a dental emergency, and you need to make an appointment with your dentist immediately if you want to save it. Your tooth can only last so long after it has been knocked out. If it remains out of your mouth for over an hour, the chances of saving it fall drastically. As such, if you ever find yourself in this situation, you should do whatever it takes to get to your dentist’s office in less than 60 minutes.

How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Tooth: You need to preserve the tooth until your appointment. Pick it up by the crown (not the pointed roots) and very gently rinse off any debris. Then put the tooth back in its socket if you can. If this isn’t possible, place it in a container filled with milk so that the roots stay moist. (Do not use tap water; it could damage the tooth.)

How We Treat Knocked-Out Teeth:  It is possible to reimplant a knocked-out tooth so that it can reattach itself to the jawbone given enough time. In cases where the tooth is too badly damaged or is beyond the point where it can be saved, we can suggest a replacement such as a dental bridge or a dental implant.

Learn More About Dental Bridges

Learn More About Dentures

Learn More About Dental Implants

Lost Filling or Crown

Is a Lost Filling or Crown a Dental Emergency?: Crowns and fillings can last for many years with the right care, but eventually they might fall off or break. If you’re not in any pain, this likely isn’t an urgent problem, but you still need to see your dentist quickly so that they can repair the tooth before it suffers from further damage or infection.

How You Should Handle a Lost Filling or Crown: Make sure you save the filling or crown in case it’s in good enough shape to be reattached to the tooth. You may be able to reseat a lost crown with a dab of toothpaste or dental cement. This is just a temporary solution; you’ll still need a dentist’s help to put it permanently in place.

How We Treat Lost Fillings or Crowns:  We’ll check on the state of your restoration. In some cases, we can simply recement it onto the tooth in question. But if it’s too damaged or weak to use anymore (or if you weren’t able to find it after it fell off), we can simply get you a new filling or crown so that you can continue to protect your tooth.

Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings

Learn More About Dental Crowns

Broken Dentures

  Is My Broken Denture a Dental Emergency?: A broken denture won’t function or fit properly, and trying to wear it may injure your gums or your jaw. It’s best to call your dentist right away if you notice any signs that your denture has been damaged.

  How You Should Handle a Broken Denture: Do not wear your broken denture until you’ve had your dental appointment. Never try to fix a broken denture by yourself; it could potentially make the situation worse, especially if you use nonbiocompatible materials such as superglue to perform repairs.

  How We Treat Broken Dentures: We’ll need to take a look at your dentures to see if they’re still viable. Sometimes all we need to do is repair the damage with composite resin or readjust the dentures so that they fit properly. Naturally, brand-new dentures are an option if your current dentures can’t be fixed.

Learn More About Dental Implants

Loose Permanent Tooth

  Is a Loose Permanent Tooth a Dental Emergency?: A tooth that has been partially dislodged doesn’t always hurt, but it will eventually fall out if it isn’t treated in time. You need to call our office immediately as soon as you realize that a permanent tooth is loose.

  How You Should Handle Loose Permanent Teeth: You don’t want the tooth to come out of its socket before your appointment, so avoid touching it with your fingers or your tongue. If you need to eat, keep the food away from the side of your mouth where the loose tooth is located while you’re chewing.

  How We Treat Loose Permanent Teeth: We’ll examine the tooth to see if we might be able to save it so that it can successfully reattach to the jaw. If this isn’t possible, though, we can go over your options for having the tooth removed and replaced.

Learn More About Dental Implants

Learn More About Gum Disease Therapy

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue

  Is an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue a Dental Emergency?: It can be quite frightening to realize that you’re bleeding from your mouth. It’s best to have the injury looked at right away so that it doesn’t become infected or grow worse over time.

  How You Should Handle an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue: You will want to keep the area around the injury clean, so rinse any debris away with water. To stop the bleeding, apply a clean washcloth or a piece of gauze to the wound for up to 10 minutes.

  How We Treat Injuries to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue: If the bleeding is severe or doesn’t stop after 10 minutes of applying pressure, go to the nearest emergency room. Otherwise, you can come to our office to see if we can stitch the wound closed.

Jaw Pain

  Is Jaw Pain a Dental Emergency?: Some jaw pain is more serious than others, and it isn’t always an urgent problem. But if you’re suffering from jaw pain every day, it could indicate an ongoing issue that might eventually turn into an emergency.

  How You Should Handle Jaw Pain: Jaw pain caused by a broken or fractured jawbone should be handled by the nearest emergency room. Otherwise, our team can give you tips for managing the pain based on your symptoms, such as applying an ice pack to any swollen areas.

  How We Treat Jaw Pain: We’ll need to examine your mouth and your jawbone to devise an appropriate treatment plan. If you’re grinding your teeth together at night, for example, we might give you a nightguard to take some of the pressure off of your jaw.

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

Having food or other objects stuck between your teeth likely isn’t an emergency unless you’re completely unable to remove it on your own. If the stuck object is causing you intense pain, give us a call; if necessary, we’ll make arrangements to see you as soon as possible so that we can remove the object ourselves.

When trying to get something out from between your teeth, try rinsing with lukewarm water or using dental floss. Never use toothpicks, tweezers, or anything else that’s sharp; you could end up injuring your gums.