Emergency Dentist — Cambria, CA

Toothaches

Is My Toothache a Dental Emergency?

Remember, pain signals are designed to alert you that something is wrong. So, even minor toothaches in Cambria shouldn’t be ignored. However, if the pain has lasted more than 24 hours, you feel a sharp stab when biting down, there is a bump near the tooth, or you’re experiencing symptoms of infection (like swelling or a fever), then you should get in touch with your dental team immediately for same-day treatment.

How You Should Handle a Toothache

Fortunately, there are a few things you can do before arriving to our office. First, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever to help eliminate any discomfort you’re feeling. Second, you can rinse with a mixture of salt and warm water, which will both reduce inflammation and prevent infection. Third, place a cold compress (or an ice pack wrapped in a towel) against the outside of your cheek to alleviate puffiness and temporarily numb the area.

How We Treat Toothaches

Of course, the appropriate treatment depends on the root of the problem. While small cavities can be treated with tooth-colored fillings, more severe cases of dental damage may require root canal therapy or a tooth extraction. Whatever the case may be, our team will explain all of your treatment options as well as your financial solutions. That way, you feel fully confident in making a decision that’s best for your smile.

Learn More About Tooth Extractions Learn More About Root Canal Therapy

Chipped Tooth

Is a Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency?

If the chip is small and isn’t causing you any discomfort, then you can wait a day or two to visit your dentist. It’s imperative that you don’t wait longer than that, however, since it’s at risk for further damage and infection.

How You Should Handle a Chipped Tooth

Priority number one is locating any large pieces of your tooth that have broken off. If you find any, carefully place them in a clean container and put them in a safe place so you can bring it with you to your appointment. You should also gently rinse your mouth with water to avoid accidentally swallowing a shard of your tooth. The final step is to use dental wax or a piece of sugarless gum to cover the sharp edge (this will help prevent irritation to your lips, tongue, and the soft tissue in your mouth).

How We Treat Chipped Teeth 

As you may have guessed, the treatment our Cambria emergency dentist suggests will depend on the extent of the damage. For patients who want to restore the look and function of their smile, we often suggest veneers. These are custom-made for each patient, are extremely durable, and are capable of lasting for well over a decade with proper care.

Learn More About Veneers

Cracked Tooth

Is a Cracked Tooth a Dental Emergency?

Since even small cracks can increase your risk of infection and further dental damage, the answer is “yes.” It’s important to remember that the damage might not be visible, which is why it’s important to take note of any unusual symptoms, like pain when biting down.

How You Should Handle a Cracked Tooth

One of the top priorities is preventing infection. To keep your mouth clean, regularly rinse with clean, room-temperature water. Until the tooth has been repaired, do not chew on that side of your mouth and avoid all crunchy, hard, and sticky foods. If you’re in pain, then take an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed and cover the tooth with sugarless gum (or dental wax, if you have it) to avoid further sensitivity.

How We Treat Cracked Teeth 

Oftentimes, the best way to restore a cracked tooth is with a custom-made dental crown. If the crack is severe enough, then we may need to extract it and fill the space with a tooth-replacement solution, like dental implants. Fortunately, we offer both placement and restoration in-house, and we only utilize the latest technology, techniques, and materials.

Learn More About Tooth Extractions

Learn More About Dental Implants

Very Sensitive Teeth

Are Very Sensitive Teeth a Dental Emergency?

There are some cases where very sensitive teeth require immediate care, like if the sensation is stemming from one tooth or there are other abnormal symptoms present. Even if you’ve always struggled with dental sensitivity, we recommend not waiting longer than a day or two to schedule an appointment. That way, we can make sure it’s not the result of an untreated oral health issue.

How You Should Handle Very Sensitive Teeth

There are a few things you shouldn’t do, like drink hot coffee or eat spicy foods. We also recommend switching to a desensitizing toothpaste and taking an OTC pain reliever as instructed to help alleviate your discomfort.

How We Treat Very Sensitive Teeth

First, we need to examine your teeth and take X-rays to pinpoint what’s causing your sensitivity. In some cases, the root of the problem is actually an infection in your gums! Fortunately, we can intervene with periodontal therapy to restore your healthy smile and provide you with long-lasting relief.

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Knocked-Out Tooth

Is My Knocked-Out Tooth a Dental Emergency?

Absolutely! Furthermore, our Cambria emergency dentist needs to see you within 60 minutes of your tooth being knocked out so we have the highest chance of saving it. So don’t wait – call our team right away!

How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Tooth When you call to schedule your appointment, our team will walk you through how to handle your knocked-out tooth. Here’s an overview of what to do: locate the tooth, pick it up by the crown (the chewing surface), store it in a container filled with milk or saliva, and head to our dental office for treatment.

How We Treat Knocked-Out Teeth It really boils down to two options: reinserting the tooth or replacing it with a lifelike tooth-replacement option, like a dental implant. The solution we recommend will depend on several factors, including if you were able to locate the tooth and the condition it’s in.

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Lost Filling or Crown

Is a Lost Filling or Crown a Dental Emergency?

Lost fillings and dental crowns pose a problem: your tooth is now vulnerable to infection as well as further damage. That’s why a missing restoration is considered a dental emergency and necessitates an immediate call to our Cambria dental office.

How You Should Handle a Lost Filling or Crown

There are a few things you should do at home, like rinsing your mouth with water periodically and taking OTC pain medication as directed to minimize discomfort. If you’re able to locate your restoration, then we also recommend storing it safely in a clean container and bringing it with you to your appointment.

How We Treat Lost Fillings or Crowns 

Treating a lost filling is typically pretty straightforward: we replace the filling after ensuring that none of your other teeth were harmed in the incident. With a dental crown, there are two options: replacing it or re-cementing your old one back in place.

Broken Denture

Is a broken denture a dental emergency? Though not life-threatening, a broken denture can lead to various problems if you don’t take care of it right away. Not only will you be unable to use your full bite for eating and talking, but the prosthetic won’t effectively support your other remaining teeth. Be sure to notify your dentist for help as soon as possible.

How to handle a broken denture: Never wear a broken denture, as it can potentially damage or harm your gums and soft oral tissues. Instead, place them in a protective container with water or denture cleanser to keep them clean. Bring them with you to your appointment in case they can be repaired.

How we treat broken dentures: Our team will examine your prosthetic to determine if it can be fixed or will need to be replaced entirely. For minor chips or cracks, we might repair your denture with composite resin, but severe damage may likely warrant a replacement. We’ll review your options such as a new denture or even dental implants.

Loose Permanent Tooth

Are loose permanent teeth a dental emergency? Whether this is due to decay or after taking a blow to the face, your teeth should never feel loose. If you notice this, you’ll need to contact your dentist immediately so they can fix the problem. The last thing you’d want is to risk for the tooth to come out entirely, which can lead you to more costly treatments.

How you should handle a loose permanent tooth: Make sure not to disturb the tooth or the area around it. Carefully rinse your mouth without brushing or flossing the tooth. Avoid biting or chewing anything on that side of your mouth. Do not move it with your tongue or fingers. Take over-the-counter pain relievers if necessary.

How we treat loose permanent teeth: Once you arrive at our office, we’ll evaluate the situation and plan your treatment accordingly. We can typically splint it to another nearby healthy tooth to let it heal. If the gums are infected, we can perform periodontal therapy. We also provide custom sports mouthguards so that you can protect them more in the future. If saving the tooth isn’t viable, then we may have to extract and discuss tooth replacements, such as dental implants.

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue

Is an injury to the gums, lips, or tongue a dental emergency? These kinds of injuries are often unsettling, but they’re also likely able to be addressed with at-home remedies. However, if you suspect your teeth have also been injured, then notify your dentist right away for help.

How you should handle an injury to the gums, lips, or tongue: Gently rinse your mouth with water (or saltwater) to clean away any debris and bacteria. Use a gauze pad or clean washcloth to apply pressure to the area to control any bleeding. If you need to, take over-the-counter pain medications to lessen discomfort while you wait to see us. That said, if the laceration is more severe and you can’t control the bleeding, head straight to your local ER instead.

How we treat injuries to the gums, lips, or tongue: In many cases, we can probably suture the wound and help you stop any bleeding. If you have any minor damage to your teeth, we can use composite resin to reshape and repair them. We can also create personalized sports mouthguards that will keep your smile cushioned and protected whenever you participate in physical activities.

Learn More About Sports Mouthguards

Jaw Pain

Is jaw pain a dental emergency? Your jaw can ache for a variety of reasons. Regardless of the severity, you’ll want to schedule a visit with your dentist just in case. Of course, if you suspect that you’ve broken or dislocated your jaw, a trip to the local ER should be first. Our team can see you once you’re stabilized.

How you should handle jaw pain: Take over-the-counter painkillers to minimize discomfort and apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek to numb the area and reduce any swelling. Avoid strenuous activity until you’ve been able to see your dentist.

How we treat jaw pain: Our team will provide treatment based on the root of your jaw pain. If the problem is due to worn-down teeth from grinding and clenching during sleep, we can offer custom nightguards for bruxism. We can also provide TMJ therapy if your jaw joints have a disorder. If the discomfort is caused by an impacted wisdom tooth, we can simply extract it.

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

An object stuck between your teeth can result in an uncomfortable situation, so you’ll want to get it out right away. However, the last thing you want to do is to use a sharp object that can potentially damage and harm the rest of your smile. For this reason, you should avoid using things like tweezers, toothpicks, and forks to dislodge something. Instead, rinse your mouth with water to weaken the object and then carefully floss around your teeth. If this doesn’t work, visit our office for help.