If you or a loved one lost a tooth, injured their jawbone, or experienced severe pain or swelling of the mouth, would you call your dentist right away? Many patients say they wouldn’t because they don’t expect their dentist to be available in case of emergency. Instead, patients say they would go to the emergency room if the problem was severe, or call to schedule a regular appointment. At Complete Dental Care, Drs. James P. Kostas and Justin J. Cardarelli, encourage patients experiencing dental emergencies to call our practices immediately. We’re here to help you, and we always try to see our patients with dental emergencies right away. Your comfort and care are our top priority, and that means we’re available when you need us most. Call to find out more about emergency care from our Burlington, MA team or schedule your appointment today.
Tips for Dealing with Dental Emergencies from the Dentist Burlington Trusts
Dental emergencies may happen when you least expect them, but with a few basic, first aid tips from the trusted dental practitioners at Complete Dental Care, you’ll be prepared next time dental disaster strikes.
Common dental emergencies:
Broken, cracked tooth – If you’ve broken or cracked a tooth, gently rinse your mouth and any displaced pieces of tooth with warm water to remove foreign matter. Try to retain any natural fibers still attached to broken pieces of tooth. For discomfort associated with cracked or broken teeth, use a cold compress to relieve pain and reduce swelling.
Lost tooth – If you lose a permanent tooth, try to find it quickly. Holding it by the biting surface and avoiding touching the roots, rinse the tooth with water. Swish warm water around the socket. Once your mouth and tooth are clean, try to replace the tooth in the vacated socket and hold it in place by biting down on sterile gauze. If this isn’t possible, place damp gauze in the empty socket to slow or stop bleeding, and store your tooth in a glass of milk until you can reach our office.
Swelling and pain – If you have swelling or pain around a tooth, it could be indicative of several different dental concerns including: abscess, periodontal (gum) disease, soft tissue injury, or a sign that a foreign object is lodged between teeth or below the gum line. Carefully floss around the tooth and swish warm, salt water. If this does not alleviate the pain within fifteen minutes, call our office to schedule an examination. Never use a sharp or pointed object to remove lodged materials from your teeth. You risk injuring soft tissue, or irritating already infected tissue.
Jaw injury – If you are experiencing pain in the jaw that does not subside after a few hours, you should call our office to schedule an appointment. Use ice packs and over the counter pain medications to relieve discomfort until we can see you. Jaw pain can be a sign of TMJ disorder, bruxism, or malocclusion. If you are unable to move your jaw or close your mouth, you may have broken or dislocated your jaw. Hold your mouth closed, if possible, and proceed to your nearest emergency room. Call Complete Dental Care on your way so we can prepare to collaborate with your doctors to provide treatment that heals your jaw and corrects any dental damage that may arise in conjunction with the injury.
How We Help
Complete Dental Care has extended practice hours, six days a week, so we are available when more dental concerns arise. Additionally, we can be reached 24/7 in case of emergency. Our website now includes an emergency line to reach us whenever you need us. Whenever possible, we see dental emergencies right away. For patients of record, we can typically treat you on the same day you contact us. Please don’t hesitate to call if you ever need dental care.
Call the General Dentist 01803 Prefers
We hope you’ll come to expect Complete Dental Care to exceed your expectations, and that includes being here to help you stay safe and healthy in your time of dental need. Call our Burlington, MA practice to schedule an appointment or find out more about our extensive treatment options from Drs. Kostas and Cardarelli. The Complete Dental Care team welcomes patients from Burlington and nearby cities including Bedford, Woburn, Wilmington, Lexington and Billerica.
