Emergency Dentist in Redwood City, CA

Accidents happen. You're out enjoying with the kids, playing football. A surprise "tackle" from your little one results in you chipping a tooth. Or you wake up in the morning bothered by a dull ache in the back of your mouth that quickly escalates into a full-blown toothache. Anytime you experience injury to your teeth, mouth, or jaw, it's time to see an emergency dentist.

An emergency dentist is a general dentist who provides 24-hour dentistry, and can handle most dental emergencies and are open on Saturdays and Sundays. That's what you want because if you happen to have a broken tooth, a lost tooth filling, a missing dental crown, or you need toothache remedies, you don't want to have to wait 12 or 16 hours before you can get dental treatment. Plus, delaying necessary dental care never results in your dental problems going away; most times, they get worse, and fixing them becomes more intensive and more expensive. Don't worry; we are here to help.

Most common dental emergencies

Bitten Lip or Tongue

Clean the area and apply an ice pack to reduce swelling. If the bleeding doesn't stop, see your dentist right away or go to a hospital emergency room.

Broken Jaw

Apply a cold compress to limit swelling and see your dentist right away.

Object Stuck in Teeth

Carefully try to remove the object with dental floss. (Don't try using a sharp instrument instead!) If you're unable to dislodge the object with dental floss, contact your dentist.

Lost Dental Filling or Dental Crown

For dental fillings, seal the area with a piece of sugarless gum or over-the-counter dental cement. If a dental crown has come loose, try to put it back in place with dental cement. If that doesn't work, bring it with you to the dentist.

Toothache

Rinse your mouth with warm water. Then use dental floss to make sure there isn't any food or other debris causing the pain. If the pain persists, call your dentist.

Dental Abscess

If you notice a painful, pimple-like swelling on your gums, rinse with salt water and immediately contact an emergency dentist. Dental abscesses can lead to more serious infections if not treated promptly.

Broken teeth

Sustaining an external oral injury, an accident, a bad fall, or a sports-related incident are the most common causes of a broken tooth. The condition can be very painful and may result in bleeding. Rinse the mouth with water and use a clean piece of gauze to control the bleeding. You may also use a cold pack to apply pressure on the injured area to reduce the swelling. Call us immediately so that we can stay prepared when you arrive.

Avulsed tooth

An avulsed tooth is one that has been completely uprooted from the jawbone socket. The blood vessels and nerves within and around the tooth will be disturbed, which can cause severe bleeding and pain. If you find the tooth, rinse it with clean water and place it in a jar of milk so that you can bring it along while visiting the dentist. If you reach the dentist within an hour of the incident, the dentist may be able to put the tooth back in its socket to re-attach in place. Meanwhile, use a clean piece of gauze to control the bleeding.

Failed restoration

In some instances, ceramic restorations may fall off due to wear when they have stayed on the teeth for a few years. This may expose the underlying tooth structure to the microbes in the mouth and potentially cause an infection. Hence, the restoration has to be replaced with a new one as soon as possible to prevent further complications.

Injured soft tissues

When the soft tissues of the mouth are cut or bruised, it is best to get it treated by a dentist. While you visit the Family dentist in Redwood City, CA, control the bleeding using a piece of gauze, and avoid touching the injured area with your bare hands.