231.893.2915 116 W. Colby Street, Suite 1 Whitehall, MI 49461 We are here to help YOU! God forbid, but if you ever have need of emergency dental care, we are there to help you. You may need emergency dental care for many different reasons. It may be because of severe pain coming from existing problems such as infected mouth cuts, swollen gums, or abscesses. In such cases, it may become necessary to take prescription-strength analgesics for immediate relief until it becomes possible to get treatment during office hours. What should be done in case of a dental emergency? In the event of an emergency, immediately call White Lake Family Dentistry and get an appointment scheduled. It is important that you describe the problem in detail to us, so that we can advice you what you can do before you come in.  How to cure a toothache? If you are suffering from a severe toothache, you should contact us immediately. You can try painkillers such as Ibuprofen or a similar pain reliever. However, it is important that you read the label first to avoid going over the maximum recommended dose. What to do in cases of swelling? Swelling can be caused by an infection. The infection in your gum or teeth can be minor or there may be a large amount of abscess that needs to be drained. A swelling, which is infected, usually feels quite warm and tender to touch. It is extremely important that you call us immediately for your problem to be accurately diagnosed. After your mouth and teeth are checked thoroughly, appropriate antibiotics and treatment will be prescribed. What to do if your crown falls off? In case your crown falls off, you should keep it secure and get it re-cemented as soon as possible, to prevent further damage. In some cases, we may recommend a root canal treatment. What to do in case of a broken denture? In general, it is not difficult to repair a broken denture.  But, never try to repair it yourself, as it may result in further damage. Rather, you should schedule an appointment immediately to get it repaired. What are dental injuries? Teeth that are extruded, that is, forced out of their position, or teeth that are broken or knocked out are included in the category of dental injuries. These injuries can get very painful and usually require immediate treatment by a dentist.  Knocked Out Teeth If you have got a tooth knocked out, you should retrieve it and clean the debris and dirt by washing it. You should take care not to handle the root in order to protect the root surfaces’ fibers. As, there is a possibility to re-implant the tooth within thirty minutes of injury, you can try to put the tooth, which has been cleaned, back in its socket. Alternatively, you can place the tooth inside a cup of cold milk. Call your dentist on emergency line immediately to scheduling an appointment.  Extruding Teeth If the tooth is out of place and is either pushed outward or inward, you can try to apply a light finger pressure for repositioning it, but in no case you should force it into the socket. You can use a moist gauze or tissue to hold the tooth in its normal place. Fractured Teeth The degree of the injury will determine the course of treatment for a fractured tooth. But regardless of the degree of damage, it is important that you see your dentist to get the proper treatment. You don’t have to panic as it is not a difficult job to restore the fractured tooth. However, it is painful and you should try to stay away from eating cold or hot foods or biting in the affected area meanwhile. Minor Fracture For a fracture, which is minor, we may be able to smooth it out in order to minimize the injury or we may recommend a composite restoration. You will have to take extra care of the tooth for several days following treatment. Moderate Fracture Fracture is called moderate if dentin, pulp or enamel has been damaged. If any sort of permanent damage is not seen to the pulp, we may consider using a permanent crown. But if pulp has considerable damage, you will require further treatment. Severe Fracture In cases of severe fracture, the tooth is usually traumatized and there are remote chances of its recovery. Dental injuries include lacerations and tears to the lips, cheek or tongue and punctured wounds. In an injury related incident, get your wound sutured, repaired, and cleaned. If tongue laceration has resulted in bleeding, try to pull your tongue forward and put a little pressure on it using gauze.  Any kind of damage to tooth – broken tooth, lost fillings or crowns, broken dentures – calls for immediate care. In case, you get in need of emergency dental care, contact us immediately at 231. 893. 2915 We will make sure that you have your beautiful smile back on your face, in no time!   Preventative Dentistry    Cleaning, Sealants    Digital X-rays Restorative Dentistry    Fillings, Inlay, Onlay,    Crown    Root Canal Perio    Deep Cleaning, Tooth    Support Structure    Treatment Denture     Partial/Complete Denture     Implant Retained Denture Fixed Dentures     Implant     Bridge     Mini Implant Cosmetic Dentistry     Teeth Whitening     Veneers     Cosmetic Bonding Orthodontics      Braces      Invisalign Copyright © 2011 White Lake Family Dentistry All information is copyrighted. All rights reserved. White Lake Family Dentistry 116 W. Colby St., Suite 1 Whitehall, MI 49461 231.893.2915