Have you developed a sudden, inexplicable pain in your tooth, or has your mouth suffered from some sort of physical trauma? Odds are you have a dental emergency and acting quickly could mean the difference between keeping your complete smile and losing some of your teeth. Dr. Pham will make arrangements to see you as quickly as possible to repair the damage and help you relieve your pain. If you or someone you love has developed a dental problem that needs urgent attention, get in touch with Downtown Family Dental of Leesburg immediately; we can advise you on keeping your teeth safe until your appointment.
How We Treat Dental Emergencies
- Get scheduled as soon as possible for an appointment: When you call our office, we’ll do everything we can to get you seen the same day that you call. We’re happy to provide first-aid tips over the phone as well to ensure you can manage your symptoms before you arrive.
- Completing an emergency exam: After you reach us, our dentists will perform an emergency exam, then capture digital X-rays if needed to determine the source and extent of your emergency. If you are in immediate pain, we’ll do our best to get you out of discomfort when you arrive.
- Reviewing our findings: Our team will break down our findings with you in detail and explain which treatments we believe will best address your symptoms as well as prevent your emergency from coming back or worsening. This treatment plan will also include estimated costs and an expected timeline associated with your care.
- Get the care you need: Our team will work diligently to get your emergency handled, whether it’s through dental fillings, crowns, root canal therapy, extractions, or another service if deemed appropriate.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
It’s hard to have an exact definition for a dental emergency simply because there are so many kinds. In general, though, any condition that’s causing you pain or discomfort, has caused swelling or bleeding, or has damaged your teeth should be treated as an emergency. If you’re not sure whether an oral health issue rises to the level of an emergency, it’s better to err on the side of caution and call us for an appointment. Some of the most common dental emergencies and how to manage them ahead of your visit can be found below.
Understanding the Cost of Dental Emergencies
Without completing an emergency exam, we won’t be able to provide a specific cost for your care. After we’ve completed an evaluation, we’ll know which treatments are best for your needs and address your symptoms at the source. No matter what your treatment costs, you’ll always have a detailed estimate ahead of time. We’ll work with you to make your care as affordable as possible. The last thing you should do is assume you can put off care that you need as this generally results in your emergency getting worse.
How to Prevent Dental Emergencies
When you have the option to prevent dental emergencies before they appear, you can save yourself a lot of potential headache and unnecessary costs. By investing in a couple checkups every year and maintaining a few key habits that protect your oral health, you can avoid the majority of dental emergencies altogether. While good at-home tips include brushing twice a day and flossing once a day, other helpful tips include wearing a mouthguard while playing sports, keeping a healthy diet consisting of fruits and vegetables, and never using your teeth as a tool.
Dental Emergency FAQs
Are you searching for an emergency dentist in Leesburg? Do you want a trusted professional who can deliver timely care when you need it most? At Downtown Family Dental of Leesburg, we understand accidents can happen anywhere, anytime, which is why we’re here to provide immediate assistance. We’re also here to answer any of your questions about emergency dentistry so you can be better prepared should you experience an injury at home, at work, or while away on vacation. Please review the answers to the following questions and contact us to schedule an appointment if you would like to discuss further.
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What should I keep in my emergency dentistry kit?
You never know when an emergency might occur, which is why it’s important that you keep a kit on hand to help minimize your symptoms until you can get in to see a member of our team. Some of the most common items to keep in your emergency dentistry kit include:
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Gauze pads and dressings
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Sterile gloves
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Small container for teeth or lost/broken restorations
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Cotton balls
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Dental cement
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Denture adhesive
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Anti-inflammatory medicines like ibuprofen
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Floss
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Ice pack
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Topical anesthetic
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Dental practice phone number
How should I sleep with tooth pain?
Make sure you are keeping your head elevated to keep the blood from moving to your head. This will only increase the amount of pressure and cause additional discomfort to your tooth. You may also find it helpful to take an over-the-counter pain reliever. You should also avoid acidic, cold, spicy, or hot foods before bedtime. If at any point, you begin to notice an increase in pain or swelling, use a cold compress on the area to numb it. This will reduce discomfort until you can see someone in our office.
Can superglue be used to repair a broken denture?
Because a broken denture is considered a dental emergency in Leesburg, you might think using superglue will be a quick fix solution. Unfortunately, this is incorrect. In fact, superglue is highly discouraged. Why? For the following reasons:
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It does not hold up well in damp environments. This means it is unlikely to keep your denture together inside your mouth.
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It is a toxic solution that can cause an allergic reaction.
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It will change the way your food tastes.
Instead of trying to fix your broken denture yourself, call our office and let us know about your situation. We will be quick to schedule an appointment and get you the help you need.
Can I pop a dental abscess on my own?
A dental abscess can be extremely dangerous to your oral and overall health. You will likely be in much pain when suffering from this type of infection and should not try to pop it on your own. If you do, it can lead to bacteria and other harmful particles entering the wound and causing worsening symptoms. It is best to wait and see us so we can take the proper precautions to address your abscess and ensure your health and safety.
Do chipped teeth heal?
A chipped tooth cannot heal on its own. Although tooth enamel is the hardest substance in your body, it can be damaged with excessive pressure. Should you experience a chipped tooth as a result of physical activity or eating hard foods, you will need to schedule an appointment with us. Depending on the severity of the chip, we may be able to fix it with composite resin, or we’ll discuss the potential for a customized veneer if necessary. We can also consider a dental crown if the chip is hindering the structural integrity of your tooth.
