If you are unsure if what you are experiencing qualifies as a dental emergency and would require immediate attention, please keep reading about some of our most commonly seen emergencies. 

• Knocked-Out Tooth: If a full natural tooth has been knocked out and is pretty clean, make sure you handle it by the crown rather than the root, and try to place it back into the socket as soon as possible (this will prevent the reattachment cells from dying). If the tooth isn’t clean, rinse it but don’t scrub it. Place the tooth in a cup of warm milk if you can’t get it back in. If a knocked-out tooth is treated within an hour, it has a better chance of being salvaged. To improve your chances of saving your tooth, contact us right away.

• Broken Teeth: If a portion of your tooth has broken off, locate and keep all of the pieces. To remove smaller bits, rinse your mouth with warm water. If you’re bleeding, place a piece of sterile gauze over the wound until it stops bleeding. To ease some of the discomfort and swelling, apply a cold compress or an ice pack. Call us right away so we can repair the tooth and prevent further damage.

• Abscess: If you have an abscess, rinse your mouth many times a day with a moderate saltwater solution (half a teaspoon of table salt in 8 ounces of water). This should ease the pain while also drawing the pus to the surface. An abscess is a dental infection that occurs at the root of the tooth or between the teeth and the gums. It can harm the tissue and the teeth around it, and if left untreated, it can spread to other regions of your body. Call us to have the abscess treated to avoid more damage.

• Swollen & Bleeding Gums: Flossing for the first time after not flossing for a while, bleeding and swelling will occur. Swelling and constant bleeding that refuses to let up could be a sign of the early stages of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is a gum disease that infects the gums due to plaque and tartar buildup. If not treated early on, this disease will greatly damage your gum tissue leaving you at risk for gum recession, tooth loss, and even bone loss. Not only does the periodontal disease affect your oral health, but it can also lead to physical health issues such as heart attack, stroke, and diabetes. 

Each team member at Durham Dental Center is trained and ready to provide you with the highest quality emergency dental care whenever you may need it. Experiencing a dental emergency can be scary and stressful, so let us help you by working quickly to restore your tooth. If you are in the Plainfield, New Jersey area or just passing through and experiencing a dental emergency, please don’t hesitate to call our office. Our emergency dentist professionals are ready and excited to help you maintain a healthy and beautiful smile.