Maybe you’ve suddenly tripped on the sidewalk and chipped a tooth, or maybe a dull discomfort in the back of the mouth has suddenly blossomed into searing pain. No matter what the specific circumstances are, every dental emergency patient has something in common – they need help NOW.
At Santavicca Dental Professionals, we understand that these situations are never convenient or timely. Nonetheless, we’re fully committed to your health and wellbeing and will accommodate dental emergencies in Lebanon as soon as possible. New and current patients are both welcome, so please don’t hesitate to contact us for further assistance.
If you are in pain or need help, don’t hesitate to give us a call right away!
Why Choose Santavicca Dental Professionals for Emergency Dental Care?
- Team of Highly Experienced Doctors Focused On Your Comfort
- Same-Day Emergency Appointments Available
- Advanced Dental Technology for Fast, Precise Care
What to Do in a Dental Emergency
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
How to Prevent Dental Emergencies
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene Habits at Home
Plaque and tartar buildup on the teeth lead to decay, and dental decay is often a precursor of a dental emergency. To prevent plaque and tartar from building up on your teeth, you should:
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day. Do not forget to brush the backs of your teeth and the area around the gum line.
- Floss once a day. Be sure to use proper technique. Your dental hygienist can provide you with personalized coaching.
- Drink plenty of water to rinse away food particles and bacteria.
- Visit your dentist regularly (at least twice a year) for routine cleanings and checkups.
Limit Your Sugar Intake
Sugar is a primary cause of tooth decay. It is best to limit how much of it you include in your diet. Also, acidic beverages, such as soda and fruit juices, can wear away at the tooth enamel, so you should be mindful of how much of them you consume. In addition to avoiding foods that are not tooth-friendly, you should eat plenty of calcium-rich items to help fortify your teeth, such as cheese, milk, and broccoli.
Don’t Chew on Hard Objects
Tooth enamel is extremely hard, but it is also brittle; it can easily break if it encounters hard objects. Therefore, it is best to avoid habits like chewing on ice or biting down on hard candy. You should also not use your teeth on non-edible items. For example, you should never use your teeth as a tool to open packages or take the tags off of clothing. To help you avoid doing such things, you might find it beneficial to carry a small pair of scissors or a pocketknife with you.
Play & Sleep Safely
If you like to play sports, you should always wear a mouthguard while you are on the field are court — even if you are playing a “non-contact” sport. You can purchase mouthguards from most sporting goods stores, but custom ones from a dentist offer the highest level of protection.
If you suffer from bruxism (involuntarily teeth grinding), you should invest in a different type of teeth guard — a nightguard. It will stop the teeth from contacting one another while you sleep and prevent the wear and tear that bruxism can cause.
Dental Emergency FAQs
Will My Toothache Go Away on Its Own?
Teeth cannot heal themselves. Therefore, toothaches generally do not go away on their own. However, there are some exceptions. If pain is coming from somewhere near a tooth, rather than the tooth itself, your discomfort might disappear without treatment. This might happen if you have a sinus infection or a minor gum injury.
Another reason why a toothache might suddenly vanish is if the nerve inside the tooth dies and is no longer able to send pain signals to the brain. However, the infection that cause the toothache in the first place may still be present and continue to threaten your oral and overall health. Without treatment, you could suffer significant damage to your jawbone or even develop systemic illness.
Should I Visit the Emergency Room First for Dental Emergencies?
Unfortunately, most emergency departments in hospitals do not have the equipment or qualified personnel to address dental emergencies. They might just tell you to take some pain relievers and visit your dentist as soon as possible. However, you should go to the emergency room if you are experiencing any severe or life-threatening problems, such as a broken jaw, difficulty breathing, a high fever along with a toothache, or a soft tissue injury that is bleeding excessively.
What Does Throbbing Tooth Pain Mean?
In most cases, throbbing tooth pain points to an infection within a tooth. An infection can cause inflammation in the tooth’s pulp (the sensitive tissue in a tooth’s center that contains nerves). This usually occurs when decay or damage allows bacteria to sneak into the tooth’s interior. A tooth infection is a serious problem that requires prompt treatment. Otherwise, the infection could spread and cause systemic illness.
Another possible reason for throbbing tooth pain is bruxism (grinding and clenching). Since bruxism often occurs during sleep, many people are not aware that they do it. Unlike an infection, bruxism-related pain usually occurs across several teeth rather than a highly localized area.
What Should I Keep in My Emergency Dentistry Kit?
Here are some items that can help you deal effectively with almost any dental emergency:
- A small storage container with a lid
- Sterile gloves
- Dressing, gauze pads, and cotton balls
- An ice pack
- Dental cement
- An oral anesthetic
- Pain medication
- Dental floss
- Your dental insurance information
- Contact information for your dentist
- An updated list of your current medications and medical conditions
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