Emergency Dentistry Specialist

What is emergency dentistry?

A dental emergency is any injury or trauma that requires immediate treatment and cannot wait for regular business hours. While there are many types of dental emergencies, some of the most common that Tustin Dental Center treats are:

• Knocked-out teeth
  
• Cracked or broken teeth
  
• Tooth infection
  
• Severe tooth pain
  
• Trauma to the mouth or jaw
  
• Sudden sensitivity to heat and cold

Whether you’re hit in the mouth while playing sports or you suddenly have loose teeth, Tustin Dental Center can restore your smile.

What are signs I might need emergency dentistry?

If you think you have a dental emergency, watch out for these common warning signs:

Swelling

Facial swelling is a sign of infection, injury, or dental abscess. While the problem can be as simple as a piece of food stuck between your teeth and gums, it may also indicate a serious disease like oral cancer. If your face or jaw is suddenly swelling, call Tustin Dental Center right away.

Loose teeth

While loose teeth are perfectly normal for children, you should never have a wiggly tooth as an adult. Shifting or loose teeth require immediate attention, as you may have a tooth injury, advanced gum disease, or a localized tooth infection.

Tooth pain

Not all toothaches require emergency care, but when over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers simply aren’t cutting it, you may have a serious tooth infection. Without immediate treatment, a tooth infection can spread throughout your body and become life-threatening.

Canker sores

If you have a lingering canker sore that hasn’t subsided after several weeks, it may be infected.

Metallic taste

Are you suddenly tasting metal all the time? If so, you may have a loose metal filling. While this may not seem like an emergency, loose fillings leave your teeth vulnerable to infections and cavities.

How are dental emergencies treated?

If you have a dental emergency, call Tustin Dental Center to schedule an immediate appointment.

If you have a knocked-out tooth, you can preserve it by rinsing it with clean water and gently returning it to the socket. If you can’t place it back in the socket, put the tooth in a small container with milk or saliva to keep it moist.

If your tooth is cracked or broken, you should avoid touching it until your dentist can assess the damage unless your tooth is bleeding.

If your tooth is significantly damaged or severely infected, your dentist may recommend a root canal or an extraction to prevent the infection from spreading and to preserve your oral health.

The Tustin Dental Center team has dentists you can trust to take care of your smile in a dental emergency. Call the office or schedule a visit online for more information.