Dental Emergency? Here’s What To Do

If emergencies were convenient, they wouldn’t be emergencies. When a dental emergency happens, acting fast in those key moments can make all the difference between a fixed tooth and a lost tooth. This is why, at OnCall Dental in Frenso CA, we keep all our patients informed of our complete dental emergency services.

Dental emergencies happen most often at night or weekend. During parties and relaxing gatherings, we can be less careful with out bodies and smiles. During these hours, you might find yourself taking part in activities that can result in cracked, chipped, or knocked out teeth.

If your tooth cracks, first things first: give your mouth a rinse with warm water to clear away any debris and harmful bacteria. Then, use a cold compresses to help minimize swelling. When you’re done doing all that, head quickly to our office!

If you bite your lip or tongue, we recommend the same procedure. Clean the area gently by swishing some water, and then apply a cold compress to your the abrasion.

But what if your tooth is knocked out altogether?  One tackle or an elbow to the jaw, and you might have yourself a bigger problem than just some chips and gaps. If your tooth has fallen out, timing is critical. Try to reinsert the fallen tooth loosely back into your jaw, making sure not to touch its root. If this is not possible without pain or discomfort, don’t force it! Instead, nestle the tooth safely between your cheek and your gums, or even place it inside a glass of milk.

The most vital instruction we can give is to take the fastest, most direct route to our offices. If we are able to treat the missing tooth inside the hour, chances are high that we can save your natural tooth and root.

Though this post only covers certain dental emergencies, the list of possible accidents and mishaps is endless. Painful toothaches that wake you up from your restful sleep, objects that get lodged between your teeth and cause pain; whatever the problem might be, we can help! OnCall Dental in Fresno CA offers emergency dentistry, as well as general dentistry, toothache relief, and many other services. Contact us today! In an emergency, walk-ins are welcome.

Contact OnCall Dental (Tap to open in Google Maps):


OnCall Dental – Fresno
5492 N Palm Ave Ste A
Fresno, CA 93704

559-900-2332


Bitten Tongue

Biting your tongue is a common accident. It can be scary, because tongue tend to bleed a lot, especially if it’s a particularly bad bite. If it happens to you, remember us at OnCall Dental in Fresno.

There are lots of different ways to accidentally bite the tongue. It seems to happen to children more than adults, either on the playground or the playing field.

But a bit tongue can happen to anyone at any age, from a household accident to a car accident, from a fight to something behavioral, like unconscious chewing or an epileptic seizure.

What To Do First

A bit tongue is not automatically a dental emergency, though it might be. Home treatment may be enough. If there is a lot of bleeding, getting it stopped is your first priority.

  • Apply pressure with a sterile gauze pad or a piece of clean cloth.
  • If you need to put your hands in an injured person’s mouth, or they need to put their hands in yours, use medical gloves.
  • Inspect the mouth for pieces of teeth, or anything else that may be there.
  • Control any swelling with ice cubes wrapped in cloth. Ice pops can substitute.

What To Do Next

It’s important to keep the wound clean. Rinse the mouth out with a salt water solution every fifteen minutes. Use a cup of warm water with a teaspoon of salt.

If bleeding continues for more than fifteen minutes, it’s time to give us a call. We may want you to come in for an inspection and treatment.

Accidentlaly bit tongues happen sometimes, and there is nothing anyone can do about it. You can minimize the risk, though, by always wearing a mouthguard when playing sports, babyproofing your house, always wearing a seatbelt when driving, and always make sure small kids are in an appropriate car seat. People with health issues like epilepsy should make sure friends and relatives know what to do during a seizure.

At OnCall Dental in Fresno and Hanford we have treated many knocked out teeth, and other dental emergencies. In an emergency no appointment is needed. Walk-ins are always welcome!

OnCall Dental – Fresno
5492 N Palm Ave Ste A
Fresno, CA 93704

OnCall Dental – Hanford


Bite Your Tongue? Here’s What To Do

It can happen at home or at the office, but it’s most common when you’re participating in sports: biting down on your lip or tongue, and hurting yourself. If it happens to you, head to OnCall Dental in Fresno as soon as you can.

Injuries like this can result in a lot of bleeding. That’s because the mouth has such an excellent blood supply. It doesn’t necessarily mean the injury is more severe than you thought. In fact, the mouth’s great blood supply facilitates healing.

One of the first things you should do if you have a bitten lip or tongue, or see someone who has one, is to try to control the bleeding. Firm pressure on the wound is the first line of defense. Just be sure you use a clean piece of cloth or gauze. If it doesn’t stop soon, keep the pressure on and call 911.

If you’re able to get the bleeding to stop, the next thing to do is apply a cold compress to the the wound. That will help with any swelling. Don’t apply ice or a cold pack directly to the wound, or two the outside of the mouth. Instead, wrap it up in cloth. Your shirt will do. Applying it directly could cause skin damage.

Examine the wound for any debris. There is likely to be some if the injury is the result of a fall. Gently clean it out, but if it’s stuck, don’t try to force things. Leave that to us.

Remember that at OnCall Dental in Fresno, we handle dental emergencies, including bit tongues and lips, on a regular basis. Other urgent dental care includes toothache relief. You don’t need an appointment; walk-ins are always welcome.