Emergency Dentist Raynham

Toothaches  

Is My Toothache a Dental Emergency? If you’re struggling with a toothache in Raynham, even a relatively minor one, we recommend calling us right away. That way, Dr. Al can determine if it’s stemming from an untreated oral health problem, like a cavity.

How You Should Handle a Toothache To alleviate any discomfort you’re experiencing in the short term, we recommend rinsing with warm saltwater, not chewing on that side of your mouth, and avoiding spicy, sugary, hot, and cold foods. If needed, you can take OTC pain medication as well.

How We Treat Toothaches We offer several restorative treatments at our office, including root canal therapy. Ultimately, the one that’s best for you will depend on what we find during the exam. Once that’s complete, we will share our findings and help you decide the best way to proceed.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ROOT CANAL TREATMENT

Chipped Teeth  

Is a Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency? Not always. For example, if the chip is so minor that you aren’t experiencing sensitivity, soreness, or discomfort, then scheduling an appointment with us before the end of the week should suffice.

How You Should Handle a Chipped Tooth In addition to calling us to schedule an appointment, we recommend rinsing your mouth gently and periodically with clean, room-temperature water to keep it clean. You should also cover the sharp edge of your tooth with dental wax or sugar-free gum to prevent it from cutting the soft tissue in your mouth.

How We Treat Chipped Teeth There are several ways we can restore the missing structure, including with a veneer, a metal-free restoration, or dental bonding. Ultimately, the one that’s best for you will depend on the extent of the damage, your aesthetic goals, and your budget. Rest assured, we will share our recommendations and help you decide so you feel completely confident moving forward.

Cracked Tooth  

Is a Cracked Tooth a Dental Emergency? Yes, especially if the damage is visible. So, don’t wait – call our Raynham dental team ASAP so they can schedule an emergency visit with Dr. Al.

How You Should Handle a Cracked Tooth Protecting the tooth from further harm is crucial. We recommend not chewing on that side of your mouth, eating only extremely soft foods, and rinsing your mouth with clean, room-temperature water periodically.

How We Treat Cracked Teeth Oftentimes, teeth that are only slightly cracked can be saved with a dental crown. More severe damage, on the other hand, requires us to extract the tooth and replace it with the next best thing: a dental bridge or implant.

Very Sensitive Teeth

• Are Very Sensitive Teeth a Dental Emergency? There are many potential causes for dental sensitivity, such as aggressive brushing or eating highly acidic foods, which can thin your enamel. You might require an emergency visit if you experience persistent or severe aches that last multiple days, or only one or two teeth seem to be affected, because this can indicate there is a more serious underlying issue.
• How You Should Handle Very Sensitive Teeth: Contact our office in Raynham, and we’ll discuss your situation and schedule an appropriate time to see you based on your circumstances. We might also provide additional care instructions over the phone to follow until you arrive, such as rinsing your mouth with lukewarm salt water or avoiding foods that are too sweet, spicy, or acidic.
• How We Treat Very Sensitive Teeth: The solution for your sensitivity depends on what’s causing it. It might be as simple as switching to a desensitizing toothpaste or using prescription mouthwash. If it’s due to gum disease, we offer antibiotics or scaling and root planning. Damaged teeth can often be mended with a root canal followed by a dental crown.

<Learn More About Gum Disease Treatment>

<Learn More About Root Canal Treatment>

<Learn More About Dental Crowns>

Knocked-Out Tooth

• Is My Knocked-Out Tooth a Dental Emergency? Whatever the reason for your lost tooth, it’s best to contact our office in Raynham immediately for a same-day appointment. Depending on what happened and its current condition, there’s a chance Dr. Al might be able to save it, but only if you act quickly.
• How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Tooth: Locate your tooth and rinse it gently with water, but avoid touching the roots because you might harm the still-viable cells. Then, store it in a container with a small amount of your saliva or milk to help preserve it until you arrive.
• How We Treat Knocked-Out Teeth: We’ll examine your condition and may take X-rays to determine the extent of the damage. Then, if the tooth is intact and in good condition, Dr. Al might be able to put it back in the socket to help it reintegrate with your jawbone. If not, our team can recommend an appropriate replacement option, such as a dental bridge, implants, or dentures.

<Learn More About Dental Bridges>

<Learn More About Dental Implants>

<Learn More About Dentures>

Lost Filling or Crown

• Is a Lost Filling or Crown a Dental Emergency? Dental fillings and crowns don’t usually last forever, so it’s not always urgent if they’re lost. However, the underlying tooth is prone to sustaining additional damage the longer you wait to have it repaired or replaced.
• How You Should Handle a Lost Filling or Crown: Try to locate the restoration and rinse it off so you can bring it to our office. If you’ve lost a crown and it’s in good condition, you might try putting it back over your tooth with a small amount of temporary dental cement until you arrive, but this isn’t recommended for fillings.
• How We Treat Lost Fillings or Crowns: Depending on the condition of your filling or crown, Dr. Al might be able to repurpose it. If not, he can help provide a new restoration designed to look and feel as lifelike as possible.

<Learn More About Tooth-Colored Fillings>

<Learn More About Dental Crowns>

Broken Denture

Is My Broken Denture a Dental Emergency? Remember, even a relatively minor break can compromise your ability to chew properly and increase your risk of further damage. For that reason, we recommend scheduling an appointment at our Raynham dental office. The sooner you do, the sooner we can repair or replace your denture.

How You Should Handle a Broken Denture: We mentioned an important step above: scheduling an appointment at our office. It’s also a good idea to place your denture (or the pieces of your denture) in a small, clean container to prevent it from breaking further.

How We Treat Broken Dentures: Fortunately, small repairs can often be completed at our office. If the damage to your dentures is more severe, however, then we will either need to send them to the dental lab or begin the process of having a replacement made.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Loose Permanent Tooth

Is a Loose Permanent Tooth a Dental Emergency? Absolutely! After all, the more time that passes, the higher the chances are of the tooth completely falling out. So, don’t wait – schedule an appointment with our emergency dentist in Raynham ASAP.

How You Should Handle Loose Permanent Teeth: In addition to scheduling an emergency appointment with us, we recommend doing what you can to prevent the tooth from loosening further. That starts with sticking to soft foods and extends to not wiggling it with your finger.

How We Treat Loose Permanent Teeth: Once you arrive at our office, Dr. Al will determine if your tooth can be saved with the help of a dental splint. If that’s not an option, then we will likely need to perform an extraction and replace your tooth with a custom-made dental bridge or implant.

LEARN MORE ABOUT TOOTH EXTRACTIONS

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue

Is an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue a Dental Emergency? Soft tissue injuries often bleed a lot, making them quite scary. The good news is that they can often be handled at home relatively quickly and easily.

How You Should Handle an Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue: First, go to the sink, rinse your mouth with clean water, and apply pressure to the cut with a damp, clean washcloth (or gauze, if you have it). Then, once the bleeding has stopped, use a cold compress to alleviate any lingering swelling.

How We Treat Injuries to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue: Usually, cuts to the gums, lips, and tongue don’t require our care. With that said, you should call 911 or go to the ER if you’re experiencing any potentially life-threatening symptoms, like bleeding uncontrollably.

Jaw Pain

Is Jaw Pain a Dental Emergency? Typically, jaw pain doesn’t require same-day care. With that said, you shouldn’t hesitate to call us, especially if the discomfort you’ve been experiencing is getting progressively worse with each passing day.

How You Should Handle Jaw Pain: Using a cold compress, avoiding crunchy foods, and taking OTC pain medication as directed can all help. With that said, the only way to alleviate your jaw pain in the long-term is to come to our office so we can pinpoint and treat the root of the problem.

How We Treat Jaw Pain: First, we need to determine what the culprit is. Oftentimes, it’s either impacted wisdom teeth, TMJ dysfunction, or nighttime teeth grinding.

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

While you might be tempted to reach for something sharp, like a toothpick, we advise against it. Instead, dissolve some salt in warm water and rinse your mouth with the mixture a few times (spitting it out when you’re done). Then, use a clean strand of floss to gently remove the debris.