Emergency Dentistry – Warsaw, IN
The Fast, Smile-Saving Care You Need
When you or a loved one is experiencing tooth pain or an injury to the mouth, it can be difficult to stay calm and know what to do. Fortunately, there’s only one thing you need to remember when a dental emergency strikes: call East Center Dental! No matter when you call for urgent oral treatment, our team will work to see you as soon as possible so that you can get out of pain and back to smiling. Our patients don’t hesitate to call us for the fast emergency dentist in Warsaw, IN they need to save damaged smiles!
Why Choose East Center Dental for Emergency Dentistry?
- Appointments for Dental Emergencies Available
- Dental Sedation & Relaxing Amenities Offered
- Ready to Help Patients of All Ages
How We Treat Dental Emergencies
Dental emergencies can be confusing and scary, but as long as you give our team a call, we’ll handle the situation from there! Here’s what we typically do to help our emergency patients:
- As soon as you arrive at our dental office, Dr. Rudolph will thoroughly examine your mouth to determine the cause and extent of the problem. He’ll also focus on getting you out of any immediate pain.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
With so many possible problems that can develop in the teeth and gums, knowing whether your dental issue “counts” as an emergency can be difficult. Even if you don’t think you need immediate attention, it’s best to give us a call anyway, especially if you’re experiencing one of these common dental emergencies.
Toothaches
Chipped
Tooth
Cracked
Tooth
Sensitivity to
Hot & Cold
Knocked-Out
Tooth
Lost Filling
or Crown
Broken
Denture
Loose
Tooth
Gums, Lips or
Tongue Injury
Jaw Pain or
Clenching
Something Stuck
Between Teeth
Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies
After dealing with a dental emergency, the last thing you want to do is experience another one. While there’s no way to completely eliminate your chance of ever being faced with a dental emergency again, you can significantly improve your odds of avoiding one. Here are a few of our recommendations:
Attend a Dental Checkup and Cleaning Biannually
Your biannual visits to our office are important for a number of reasons. One of them is that they allow us to address potential emergencies in their early stages. In fact, we can catch everything from oral cancer to tooth decay and gum disease during the exam! Plus, we can clear away food particles, plaque, tartar, and other debris from your mouth during the cleaning, helping reduce your risk of dental damage even further.
Brush and Floss Every Day
It goes without saying that you need to take care of your teeth on a daily basis as well. The first step is brushing your teeth with fluoridated toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush each morning and evening (or after every meal, if you can). The second step is flossing daily and using an antimicrobial mouthwash consistently to clean between your teeth and reduce plaque buildup. Simply put, a clean mouth is a healthy mouth, so make sure to prioritize your at-home oral hygiene regimen!
Stick to a Nutritious Diet
Remember, what you eat impacts your oral health. For example, foods and drinks that are loaded with added sugar can result in enamel erosion if eaten in excess. Conversely, fresh fruits, healthy fats, and raw vegetables are packed with nutrients that your body needs to keep your jawbone strong and prevent infections. That’s why we encourage our patients to stick to a well-balanced diet and keep added sugar to a minimum.
Wear a Mouthguard When Playing Any Kind of Sport
Patients often assume that they only need a mouthguard if they participate in a contact sport, like wrestling. However, it’s possible to harm your teeth and gums during non-contact ones too, like skateboarding and running. The good news is that our Warsaw dental team can have a custom one made for you so that it’s the appropriate thickness, it fits comfortably, and it protects your smile from harm. So, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you don’t currently have a mouthguard.
Break Bad Habits
Smoking is one bad habit that can negatively impact the condition of your teeth and gums, but it’s not the only one. To prevent infections, cracks, chips, and other forms of dental damage, we also recommend not eating ice, biting your fingernails, chewing on the back of your pencil, or using your teeth as tools to open things.
Dental Emergency FAQs
Will my toothache go away on its own?
If your once-painful toothache goes radio silent, you should be concerned, not excited. Usually, this means that the infection has “killed” the root of the tooth and can spread to the surrounding teeth and gums. That’s why it’s so important that you get a cavity treated in the early stages – before it requires a root canal or tooth extraction!
What does throbbing tooth pain mean?
If you’re struggling with throbbing tooth pain, then it’s very likely that your tooth has developed an infection or has sustained a crack. Either way, the next best step is the same: contact our Warsaw dentist to schedule an emergency exam. After learning all about your symptoms, taking X-rays, and conducting a visual exam, Dr. Rudolph will determine the root of the problem as well as the best way to move forward.
My chipped tooth doesn’t hurt. Do I still need to visit?
A chipped tooth always warrants a visit to our Warsaw dental office. How urgent your situation is depends largely on the severity of the damage, however. If the break is small and you aren’t in any pain, then scheduling an appointment within the week should suffice. If the break is significant and you are in pain, on the other hand, then you need to come to our office right away.
Should knocked-out teeth be placed in water?
Although you can use clean water to clear away dirt and other debris from your tooth, you shouldn’t submerge your knocked out tooth in water. Instead, place it in a container filled with milk – this will help preserve the root surface cells.
Note: If you don’t have milk, you can also preserve the root of your tooth by placing it back in its socket. However, you should only take this approach if it slides back into place without any force.
What is causing my jaw pain?
One of the most common causes of jaw pain is chronic teeth grinding, which can often be addressed with a custom-made nightguard. Of course, it’s possible for the persistent discomfort to stem from other issues, including TMJ dysfunction or an impacted wisdom tooth. The only way to know for certain is by scheduling an exam.
Are toothpicks safe to use?
Although toothpicks have a sharp edge that can remove food particles and other debris from between your teeth, we do not recommend using them. The two main reasons are that accidentally swallowing one can be fatal and the wood can splinter inside your mouth, cutting or irritating your gums in the process. In short, it’s best not to use toothpicks or any other sharp objects – use floss instead.
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