Emergency Dentist – York, PA

Toothaches

Is My Toothache a Dental Emergency?

Tooth pain definitely counts as a dental emergency. It’s your body’s way of telling you something is wrong. If you floss around your hurting tooth and find that your discomfort is not caused by something stuck there, it could mean that the tooth is infected. You shouldn’t ignore this symptom and suffer unnecessarily. The sooner you call us, the sooner Dr. Singh can get you out of pain and back to living your life.

How You Should Handle a Toothache

To manage your pain, you may take over-the-counter medication like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, and you may place a cold pack on your face, if you have any swelling. Try to avoid eating, especially with that area of your mouth. Cold or hot drinks or foods can aggravate the deep cavity, which means you should stay away from these options. Rinse your mouth with warm saltwater to help keep bacteria to a minimum.

How We Treat Toothaches

If your pain is caused by tooth decay, we will remove the infected structure. In some cases, depending on how deep the cavity goes, root canal treatment may be necessary, which entails removing the nerve in the center of the tooth. Afterward, we’ll restore the decayed portions of the tooth either with a filling or a dental crown. Not only should your pain be gone, but your tooth should be fully functional after treatment.

Learn More about Dental Crowns

Chipped Teeth

Is a Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency?

When a tooth is chipped, either from a hit to the face or from biting on something hard, it usually cannot function, negatively affects your smile’s appearance, and could be potentially harmful to other oral structures. As a result, this problem should be treated right away.

How You Should Handle a Chipped Tooth

If you can find them, please bring any pieces of your tooth that have chipped off to your appointment. To protect your gums, tongue, cheeks, and other teeth until you come, cover sharp edges or points with sugar-free gum or with dental wax, which can be found in most drugstores.

How We Treat Chipped Teeth 

Rarely, we can reattach the piece of tooth back on, but be aware that this may not be possible or advisable. For a smaller chip, we will either fill in the missing part with a composite resin that matches the rest of the tooth or cover it with a veneer. For a larger chip, we may need to put a dental crown on the tooth to restore it.

Cracked Tooth

Is a Cracked Tooth a Dental Emergency?

If you bite down on something hard, you can fracture a tooth. Even if you don’t feel pain as a result, this situation is considered a dental emergency because a crack can expose the inner layers of the tooth to oral bacteria. Plus, the tooth could break even more. It needs immediate attention to prevent further damage.

How You Should Handle a Cracked Tooth

If you must eat, do not use that area of your mouth to bite or chew. Be gentle as you brush and floss around the tooth and take pain medication (over-the-counter works) if you feel pain. Rinse warm saltwater in your mouth to keep the tooth clean as well.

How We Treat Cracked Teeth 

Like with many other dental problems, treatment for cracked teeth will vary based on how severe the damage is. Cosmetic cracks can be covered with veneers, while deeper ones may require root canal treatment. If the crack reaches below the gums, the tooth will need to be removed entirely and replaced with either a bridge or dental implant.

Very Sensitive Teeth

Are very sensitive teeth a dental emergency? Yes, you should plan to seek immediate attention if you notice that your teeth are highly sensitive. While some instances tend to go away after a short time, sensitivity that remains for a prolonged period or suddenly appears with little to no explanation should be seen by our emergency dentist.

How you should handle very sensitive teeth: Sensitive teeth can occur for many reasons, so while you’re waiting for your appointment, it’s best if you stay away from crunchy, hard, acidic, and cold and hot foods and beverages. Consuming any of these things can cause pressure and unnecessary discomfort. You may find it helpful to take an OTC pain reliever.

How we treat very sensitive teeth: Whether it is caused by aggressive brushing, excessive whitening, a cavity, a cracked tooth, advanced gum disease, or an infection (abscess), we have the solutions to fix the problem and improve the health of your smile. Increased tooth sensitivity can be easily treated with antibiotics, prescription mouthwash, desensitizing toothpaste, a tooth-colored filling, a custom dental crown, periodontal therapy, and even a root canal, or tooth extraction. The severity of the sensitivity will ultimately determine the type of treatment you need.

Knocked-Out Tooth

Is my knocked-out tooth a dental emergency? When faced with a knocked-out tooth, it’s important that you do not waste time getting to our dental office. Time is of the essence if we are to try and save the tooth.

How you should handle a knocked-out tooth: The first step you should take is to retrieve the tooth. Do not attempt to hold it by the root. Instead, pick it up by the crown and rinse out your mouth. Insert the tooth into a container of milk or try to reinsert it into the vacant socket. Without putting too much pressure on the tooth, you can hold it in place by gently biting down.

How we treat knocked-out teeth: Our dental team will need to examine the status of the tooth to see if it is salvageable. If so, we will attempt to reintegrate it with the bone tissues using a splint. Otherwise, we will need to discuss ways to replace the missing tooth, which may include a dental bridge, denture, or dental implant.

Lost Filling or Crown

Is a lost filling or crown a dental emergency? You do not want to wait too long to seek help for a lost dental crown or filling, as an infection can form if bacteria enter the vulnerable area. This is why it’s best to see our emergency dentist sooner rather than later.

How you should handle a lost filling or crown: At home, it’s important that you avoid chewing on that side of your mouth with the lost restoration. Bacteria and food particles can easily become trapped in the exposed tooth, increasing your chances of an infection. Also, be careful when cleaning your teeth during this time. You can try to re-bond your crown over your tooth if you would like, but you do not have to.

How we treat a lost filling or crown: To treat a lost dental crown or filling, we will first inquire if you have the restoration with you. If so, we’ll evaluate the status of it to determine if we can simply put it back in place. This is naturally the cheapest and quickest option. However, if you don’t have the restoration or it is too badly damaged, we’ll need to have a new tooth-colored filling put into place or a metal-free dental crown made to cover the tooth.

Broken Denture

Is My Broken Denture a Dental Emergency? You rely on your dentures to chew your food, speak clearly, and smile with confidence. Breaking one may not feel painful or be life-threatening, but you should still have it fixed as soon as you can. Wearing a broken denture can lead to soft-tissue irritation and make the damage worse.

How You Should Handle a Broken Denture: You shouldn’t attempt to repair a broken denture on your own. Denture repair kits and household items can lead to additional damage. Instead, give us a call and let us know what’s going on.

How We Treat Broken Dentures: The way that we address your broken dentures will depend on the severity of the damage. If it is just a small chip or crack, we may be able to correct it with composite resin. However, for more severe damage, you might need to be fitted with new dentures. This is also a great time to consider other tooth replacement options, like dental implants.

Learn More About Dentures

Learn More About Dental Implants

Loose Permanent Tooth

Is a Loose Permanent Tooth a Dental Emergency? Yes! A loose tooth is an urgent dental emergency. If your tooth is loose, this means that it is at risk of falling out. You should have this address as soon as possible. Give us a call to schedule your visit.

How You Should Handle Loose Permanent Teeth: Once you notice that your tooth is wiggly, give us a call to schedule an emergency visit. Until your appointment, avoid chewing on that side of your mouth, and don’t touch the tooth with your tongue or fingers.

How We Treat Loose Permanent Teeth: We will do everything we can to save your tooth. If we can’t save it, we can discuss tooth replacement options to complete your smile.

Learn More About Dental Implants

Learn More About Gum Disease Treatment

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue

Is an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue a Dental Emergency? Experiencing trauma in this area can be alarming because it has the tendency to bleed a lot. If you have concerns about a wound in this area, give us a call so we can give you further instructions.

How You Should Handle an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue: Begin by rinsing the area with water to wash away any dirt or debris. Then, use a clean washcloth or gauze to apply pressure to the area until the bleeding stops. For pain and inflammation, use a cold compress.

How We Treat Injuries to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue: If the cut is small, we may be able to help by stitching it closed. For larger cuts or wounds, it’s best if you go to the emergency room. We’d be happy to take a look at your mouth when you have been discharged.

Jaw Pain

Is Jaw Pain a Dental Emergency? In most cases, jaw pain isn’t a dental emergency. However, it can still be quite uncomfortable. If your pain becomes severe or chronic, let us know. We can start taking steps to reduce your discomfort.

How You Should Handle Jaw Pain: Over-the-counter pain relievers and oftentimes enough to relieve the pain. However, if you think that your jaw may be broken or dislocated, you should go to the emergency room.

How We Treat Jaw Pain: The treatment we use for jaw pain depends on the patient. For some, a nightguard for bruxism is enough to reduce this discomfort. For others, TMJ treatment is necessary. We can discuss the options available to you during your next visit.

Learn More About Nightguards for Bruxism

Learn More About TMJ Treatment

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

Don’t use anything sharp to try to get an object out from between your teeth. Attempting to dislodge it with tweezers, toothpicks, or cutlery can put the item in further or damage your soft tissues. Instead, rinse your mouth with water. Then, use dental floss to dislodge it. If you are still struggling to get it out, give us a call so we can give you further instructions.