Do You Have A Dental Emergency? We Can See You Today.

Is my toothache a dental emergency? If you have a toothache in Washington, there’s a good chance it’s not a dental emergency. However, if you are experiencing much pain beyond a normal 24-hour period, it’s time to call our office to schedule an appointment. Some toothaches are the result of a serious oral health problem or injury, and you should seek immediate treatment if:

• The tooth in question appears dark in color or discolored
• You experience swelling, fatigue, or fever
• You are in pain when trying to bite down or open your mouth
• You notice a small bump on the gum tissue near the problem tooth

How you should handle a toothache: Once you call and alert us to your situation, it is best if you rinse your mouth with warm water to loosen anything that might be stuck between your teeth. Next, use dental floss or a water irrigator to push anything out. Using warm salt water as a rinse can help to fight any possible infection and reduce inflammation. You can also take an over-the-counter pain reliever to reduce discomfort, just never place aspirin on your gums or teeth.

How we treat toothaches: When visiting our dental office for treatment for your toothache, we will take digital X-rays to determine if there is an issue occurring beneath the gum line. Once we can pinpoint the problem, we can then create a personalized treatment plan that includes what method of care we plan to use as well as how much you can expect this particular service to cost.

Some of the most common ways to treat a toothache include:

• Antibiotics
• Dental filling
• Dental crown
• Prescription mouthwash
• Root canal therapy
• Periodontal therapy
• Tooth extraction (most severe cases)

Chipped Tooth

Is a chipped tooth a dental emergency? With a chipped tooth, it’s unlikely you’ll need emergency dentistry; however, similar to a cracked tooth, it is dependent upon what you’re experiencing and the severity of the damage. Naturally, it is always best to seek immediate treatment when an injury occurs to your teeth and/or gums, as infection and additional damage can occur.

How you should handle a chipped tooth: While at home waiting to see your emergency dentist in Washington, you’ll need to rinse your mouth with warm water to remove any bacteria that might try to threaten your vulnerable tooth. You’ll also want to make sure to cover the jagged areas of your tooth with sugar-free gum or dental wax to avoid injuring your soft oral tissues.

How we treat chipped teeth: At Bartusiak Dental Care of Washington, our dental team can use dental bonding to treat a minor chip. But if you are concerned about the appearance of your smile because the chip is much larger and visible, we can always discuss the possibility of placing veneers.

Cracked Tooth

Is a cracked tooth a dental emergency? Depending on the severity of your cracked tooth in Washington, it may or may not be considered urgent. If the crack is small and causing no pain, you may be able to wait a few days before receiving treatment. However, if you begin to notice pain or the crack is significant, you’ll need to come to see us as soon as possible. If you suffer facial trauma or notice tooth sensitivity while eating, it could be that the crack is beneath the gum line.

How you should handle a cracked tooth: According to the American Dental Association (ADA), it is best if you rinse out your mouth with warm water to remove any debris that might be left behind. This also helps to eliminate any bacteria. Should you experience sensitivity, dental wax or sugar-free gum can help minimize the sensation. You’ll also want to avoid chewing on that side of your mouth until you can get in to see us.

How we treat cracked teeth: When a minor crack is evident, it may be possible to receive dental bonding that uses composite resin to fill in the area and create a more pleasing aesthetic. However, if the crack is large, the only way to secure and maintain the tooth’s structural integrity is to have a customized dental crown created. If for some reason, the tooth is too severely damaged and is no longer viable, a tooth extraction will need to occur before discussing ways to replace it.

Very Sensitive Teeth

Is very sensitive teeth a dental emergency? Yes, tooth sensitivity can be a dental emergency but in most cases, it is not. Depending on what is causing your pain, you’re always better off calling our office to alert us to the situation. Worn tooth enamel or excessive teeth whitening can cause you to experience discomfort while eating or drinking hot or cold foods and beverages. Gum disease, gum recession, a severe cavity, an abscess, or even a cracked tooth can also be the culprits of your pain. No matter the reason, you shouldn’t ignore tooth sensitivity if you want to avoid the possibility of worsening oral health problems.

How you should handle very sensitive teeth: While at home, it is best if you drink lukewarm water instead of hot or cold, and you should avoid eating anything spicy, sweet, or acidic. An over-the-counter pain reliever is a great way to minimize discomfort, allowing you to feel more comfortable until you can get in to see us for treatment.

How we treat very sensitive teeth: As an emergency dentist in Washington, Dr. Bartusiak can quickly examine your teeth using digital imaging and determine where the problem exists. Once identified, he will recommend the appropriate form of treatment. If dealing with sensitivity caused by worn tooth enamel, prescription mouthwash or desensitizing toothpaste will be suggested. Also, fluoride treatments can help to strengthen enamel over time. If caused by more aggressive problems like an abscess, gum disease, or a cracked tooth, root canal therapy, gum disease treatment, or a tooth-colored filling may be necessary.

Knocked-Out Tooth

Is my knocked-out tooth a dental emergency? A knocked-out tooth is a dental emergency that requires immediate care by a trusted professional. Instead of waiting to seek treatment, time is of the essence and should be treated within one hour of the incident occurring. Because a tooth is only viable for a short amount of time once it has been removed from its socket, it is imperative that you receive care as soon as possible if you want to avoid discussions involving tooth replacement.

How you should handle a knocked-out tooth: If you are dealing with a lost tooth in Washington, you are instructed to contact our dental office to schedule an emergency appointment before retrieving the tooth and rinsing off any debris. If you are unsuccessful at putting it back into its socket, you should place it between your cheek and gum inside your mouth or in a container of milk or water to help it maintain moisture. You will then want to bring it with you to your appointment.

How we treat knocked-out teeth: If the tooth is still viable once you reach our dental office, there is a chance we can reattach it and allow for reintegration with the tissues. However, if you wait too long or the tooth is damaged as a result, it will be necessary to look at available tooth replacement options, which can include dental bridges, dentures, or dental implants.

Lost Filling or Crown

Is a lost filling or crown a dental emergency? When dealing with a lost dental crown in Washington or filling, you may be tempted to immediately call your dentist for help. While this is certainly an acceptable approach, you should know it’s not technically a dental emergency. Why? Because it’s not usual for this to happen, as restorations do not last a lifetime. If they fall out, you’ll need to seek treatment sooner rather than later because of the potential for infection, but don’t worry if you can’t get in that same day.

How you should handle a lost filling or crown: If a crown or filling falls out while at home or work, you’ll want to rinse with warm salt water to clear away any debris that may remain inside your mouth. You won’t want to chew on that side of your mouth, as you might cause more damage to the tooth, and you’ll need to be careful when brushing and flossing your teeth. If you have dental cement, you can attempt to reinsert it, but it’s highly recommended that you just bring the restoration to your dentist and let them re-bond it if possible.

How we treat a lost filling or crown: At Bartusiak Dental Care of Washington, you can count on us to reattach your restoration if it’s fully intact and in good shape. This is an easy process that will have you leaving with a fully restored smile. However, if the crown or filling is too damaged or cannot be found, we will need to reapply another tooth-colored filling and/or have a customized dental crown recreated.

Broken Denture

Is a broken denture a dental emergency? Wearing a broken denture in Washington will not only affect your appearance, but it can injure your gums, mouth, jaws, and remaining teeth. Whether you’ve damaged the artificial teeth or base of your denture, contact our office right away.

How to handle a broken denture: If you break your denture, you may damage the inside of your mouth. For a bite on the lip or tongue, clean the area with water and use a cold compress to numb pain. Otherwise, call us immediately!

How we treat broken dentures: If it’s a small chip or crack, we can use composite resin to quickly repair it. However, for more severe damage, we may need to readjust your denture to fit properly. In some cases, we will need to fit you for a new denture if your original one is irreparable.

Loose Permanent Tooth

Is a loose permanent tooth a dental emergency? Even if your loose tooth doesn’t hurt, it’s considered a dental emergency because it’s at risk of falling out. This can happen over time or as a result of an injury.

How you should handle a loose permanent tooth: If you notice a loose tooth, contact our office right away before the issue gets worse. Do your best not to touch the area with your tongue or fingers because it will only loosen it more.

How we treat loose permanent teeth: We will always do everything we can to keep your natural teeth healthy and in place. However, we must sometimes provide extractions if teeth cannot be saved. We offer bridges, dentures, and dental implants as great replacement solutions.

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue

Is an injury to the gums, lips, or tongue a dental emergency? Cuts inside the mouth can cause lots of bleeding. Thankfully, our emergency dentist in Washington can help. These problems often occur during sports or physical activity.

How you should handle an injury to the gums, lips, or tongue: Clean the affected area with water to wash away bacteria and debris. Then, apply pressure with a piece of gauze or clean washcloth until the bleeding subsides. You can also apply an ice pack to numb pain and reduce swelling.

How we treat injuries to the gums, lips, or tongue: We will clean the area and stitch the wound if necessary. However, if the bleeding hasn’t stopped within 10 minutes, you should go to an urgent care facility as soon as possible.

Jaw Pain

Is jaw pain a dental emergency? While jaw pain may not seem like an urgent issue, it easily interferes with your everyday life, eventually leading to serious oral health problems.

How you should handle jaw pain: Call us right away to get specific instructions for your case over the phone. We will usually recommend taking over the counter pain medication and applying a cold compress. However, jaw breaks, fractures, or dislocations require an immediate visit to the ER.

How we treat jaw pain: Our treatment will depend on what’s causing your jaw pain. We often provide custom-made mouthguards to stop teeth grinding. Plus, we can treat TMJ disorder to prevent more severe pain in the future.

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

Avoid using toothpicks, tweezers, or anything sharp to dislodge debris between teeth. Use floss to avoid soft tissue damage. You should also rinse your mouth out with a lot of water – this can often shake loose whatever is causing the problem.