Urgent Care for Dental Emergencies

At ARK Family Dentistry, we understand that dental emergencies never happen when it’s convenient. That’s what makes them emergencies. The good news is you don’t have to let your emergency go unaddressed. Dr. Kovach is committed to providing urgent care to her patients in and around Aledo. Simply give us a call and we’ll schedule a time for you to come in. We do our best to provide same-day care for urgent cases. We also offer tips for managing your emergency in the meantime.

Some of the most common dental emergencies include:

Knocked Out Tooth

If you’ve just lost one of your permanent teeth, time is of the essence. Gently pick up the tooth by the biting surface, and rinse it to remove debris. Take care to avoid removing natural tissues, and do not handle the tooth by the sensitive root structure. Next, try replacing the tooth in the socket it came from. If you’re unable to do this, store it in a container of milk or water until we can see you.

Broken Tooth

If you’ve broken your tooth, rinse your mouth with warm water, and hold a damp, sterile gauze or clean cloth over the affected teeth to stop any bleeding. If a piece of the tooth has broken away completely, retrieve it, rinse it with warm water, and bring the broken portion to the office with you. To manage pain and swelling, use over the counter pain medications and apply a cold compress at 20 minute intervals (20 minutes on/20 minutes off) to the affected area.

Lost Temporary Crown

In the case of a temporary crown becoming dislodged, rinse your mouth with warm water to remove any debris that has accumulated around the damaged tooth. A temporary crown can be reattached with a small amount of toothpaste or denture adhesive until you get to our office. This is only a temporary solution. To have your temporary professionally reattached, call our Aledo office. If you experience bleeding, apply gentle pressure by biting down on a clean cloth. To reduce pain and swelling if the crown was lost due to trauma, apply an ice pack or cold compress to the affected area.

Severe Toothache

If you’ve developed a toothache, start by brushing, flossing, and rinsing around the tooth to remove any debris that may be causing discomfort. If your toothache persists, don’t hesitate to give us a call. Take note of any additional symptoms that may give us a better idea about the underlying cause of the toothache. Some warning signs to look for include inflamed gum tissue, discoloration of the affected tooth, cracks or chips in the enamel, and teeth that feel loose.

For other emergencies, like a broken jaw or a cut on your lip or tongue that won’t stop bleeding, you need to visit your nearest emergency room for help. If you’re not sure where you should go, we would be happy to advise you.