Dental emergency

All About Dental Emergencies

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Categories: Dental emergency, Emergency Dentist, Injury

Everyone has a different pain threshold and a different idea of what constitutes a dental emergency. At OnCall Dental in Fresno, we offer urgent dental care, and remind you to never take any chances when it comes to your teeth.

In other words, if you think you might have a dental emergency, don’t delay: hightail it to our office and let us take a look.

Chances are that if you have a genuine dental emergency, you’ll know it. It may be a throbbing toothache or a chipped tooth, or even a tooth knocked out of your mouth. There may be blood. Use your best judgment, but always err on the side of caution.

Emergencies

You can sustain a tooth fracture in any number of ways. You might fall of your bicycle or take an elbow to the mouth during a pickup basketball game. You could damage a tooth in a car accident: in a world with no guarantees, a dental trauma could occur in a multitude of different ways.

Things to consider:

  • Is there any pain?
  • If so, how great is it?
  • Is there blood?
  • Is there a chipped or cracked tooth?

At OnCall Dental in Fresno we specialize in emergency dentistry. A toothache won’t get better on its own; a chipped tooth won’t repair itself. But we can help. In emergency cases you do not need an appointment; walk-ins are always welcome.

Immediate Attention: Knocked Out Teeth

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Categories: Dental emergency, Emergency Dentist, Knocked out tooth

A knocked-out tooth is one of the most serious dental emergencies there is, requiring immediate attention. If it happens to you or to someone you know, remember us at OnCall Dental in Fresno.

Something we cannot stress enough: you’re in a race against the clock. If a knocked out tooth is treated within an hour, there is a very good chance the tooth can be saved.

In the meantime, here are some things you can do before getting to our office:

  • Find the tooth.
  • Do not touch the root; pick it up by the crown (the chewing part).
  • Clean it. You can rinse it off in water, or lick it if need be.
  • Put it back in place. This only applies to adult teeth. Baby teeth are not re-inserted; it could damage the adult tooth beneath it.
  • Put a handerchief over it and bite down to keep it in place
  • If you cannot get it back in place, put the tooth in milk, or under your tongue.

Once you’re here, we will numb the area. If you were able to get it in the socket we’ll make sure it is properly positioned. Once we’ve  taken x-rays and are satisfied the positioning is good, we’ll splint it in place so it can heal. This takes about two weeks.

If you were unable to find the knocked-out tooth, your options include getting a dental implant to replace it.

People get a tooth knocked out millions of times every year. It is among the most serious dental emergencies there is, but we’ve had a lot of experience and you’ll be in good hands. You can call ahead on your way in, but you don’t need an appointment and walk-ins are always welcome. At OnCall Dental in Fresno emergency dental care is our specialty.

What To Do If You Chip a Tooth

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Categories: Chipped tooth, Dental emergency

Accidents happen when you least expect it. If you chip one of your teeth, you should see us at OnCall Dental in Fresno as soon as possible.

If you’re in a lot of pain, there are things you can do before you get to our office. The first thing is to take an over-the-counter pain reliever, like ibuprofin or acetaminophen.

It’s also a good idea to rinse out your mouth with salt water. This will help to minimize the risk of infection.

With a chipped tooth, there is a good chance you’ll have a jagged or sharp edge. Don’t worry, we can fix it, and we’ll get to that in a moment. In the meantime, though, you can cover it up with a piece of gum (use sugarless). That should keep you from hurting your tongue or cheek. Another idea is to cover it with a piece of wax  paraffin.

Once you get here, we’ll examine the damage and figure out the best way to fix it. There are several options.

Filling or bonding. This is a good choice if the chip is small. If it’s a front tooth we can use a composite resin material that matches the color of your teeth. This is known as bonding, and it can usually be done in one office visit.

Porcelain veneers. For a larger chip, a porcelain veneer is an ideal choice. Veneers are thin shells of medical-grade porcelain are custom-fitted to your tooth. They’re made in a lab, so it will take more than one appointment. The veneer is affixded to the front of your tooth, leaving you with a natural appearance.

Dental crown. For larger tooth damage, a crown may be in order. A dental crown is made to fit over the remaining portion of the tooth. This will protect it, and keep it functioning normally. Better still, it will look great.

Dental emergencies like chipped teeth are our specialaty, at OnCall Dental in Fresno. Walk-ins are always welcome, or you can schedule an appointment, too!

Something Stuck?

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Categories: Dental emergency, Emergency Dentist

Getting something lodged between your teeth can be really uncomfortable, even painful. It can drive you nuts, too. There are things you can do at home to dislodge something that’s stuck, but if it’s really wedged in there, your best bet is coming in to OnCall Dental in Fresno.

Before we give you some tips on what to do at home, here is a warning about what not to do: don’t use a toothpick, or any other pointed tool you might find in the junk drawer. A toothpick could easily crack while you dig with it, and leave a splinter. You’ll end up worse than when you started. And if you try some other pointed tool, you risk accidentally stabbing your gums.

So, that’s what not to try. What should you try?

  • Interdental picks. Not to be confused with a toothpick! These handy devices are available at any grocery or drugstore. They are soft and flexible, taper to a point, and are rigid enough to dislodge most stuck objects.
  • Dental floss. Floss is also a good bet. Waxed floss, in particular, is good for slipping into tight places to remove popcorn kernels or other stuck debris. It may help to tie a knot or two into the floss, and pull it through your teeth from the inside out.
  • Your toothbrush. The bristles of your toothbrush may be enough to push out whatever it is you have stuck between your teeth. (Use a soft bristled toothbrush for this, and for all of your brushing.)
  • Water flossers. A good blast of water may be just what you need. Water flossers emit pulsing jets of water that you can direct right at the stuck object.
  • Rinse. You may not have a water flosser. Rinsing your mouth out is probably not as effective, but certainly worth a shot. Use as much force as you can, for at least thirty seconds.

The most sure-fire method is to come in to OnCall Dental in Fresno. We have lots of experience with things stuck between teeth, and other dental emergencies. Walk-ins are always welcome: you don’t need an appointment!

Treating Toothache Pain

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Categories: Dental emergency, Tooth pain, Toothaches

A toothache can really get your attention. Toothaches make it hard to eat, hard to sleep, and hard to concentrate. At OnCall Dental in Fresno, we can ease toothache pain, even in the evening and on weekends, when other dentist offices are closed.

The most common cause of a toothache is a cavity, and we can fill one of those in a jiffy. Toothaches are caused when the nerve in a tooth’s root becomes irritated. That can also happen from infection or injury, or even in the site of an extraction.

Pain from a toothache can radiate around your face and head – the jaw, the cheeks, or the ear. It can range from mild to intense, and may be persistent or it may come and go. You may only notice it when you chew, or eat something hot or cold. However the pain affects you and whatever its cause, treatment should be made a priority.

Aside from cavities, the cause of a toothache might be:

  • Cracked tooth. Teeth can crack from trauma, biting something hard, and even from clenching.
  • Wisdom teeth. Wisdom teeth can cause pain when they’re coming in, especially if they’re impacted.
  • Abscess/Infection. This can cause severe pain and swelling.
  • Gum disease. Gums can become inflamed and cause you pain.

Most dental issues can be prevented by good oral hygiene: regular flossing, brushing with fluoridated toothpaste, and regular cleanings and checkups. We needed to say that, but this is not the place for a lecture on brushing your teeth!

At OnCall Dental in Fresno, we are here to relieve your pain and provide urgent dental care. Toothaches are only a few of the dental emergencies we treat. Walk-ins are always welcome!

Dental Emergency? Stay Calm!

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Categories: Dental emergency, Emergency Dentist

Dental emergencies can be scary, but take it from the team at OnCall Dental in Fresno: when one happens, the best thing you can do is stay calm. Stay calm, and get on over to our office.

There are many different situations that qualify as a dental emergency. Here are a few of them:

  • Toothache
  • Chipped or broken tooth
  • Crack tooth
  • Tooth knocked out
  • Something lodged between your teeth

When it comes to toothaches, you should never ignore one. A toothache is your body telling you that something is wrong. An accurate diagnosis is the best way to identify the problem and treat it.

If you have a chipped or broken tooth, we an usually reattach the broken part. Even if it’s lost, we can repair it with dental bonding.

A cracked tooth may be a more serious issue, since it might involved nerve damage. We will diagnose the extent of the damage and repair it.

Knocked out teeth are also serious. If you have recovered the tooth, keep it moist (placing it back in the socket is best) and head straight to our office. If it’s treated within an hour, chances are good the tooth can be saved.

Something stuck between teeth. You can try to dislodge it with dental floss. It can help to tie knots in the floss. Even if you get it out, come see us so we can assess the damage.

These are only a few of the dental emergencies we treat. Remember, it’s important to stay calm. At OnCall Dental in Fresno, walk-ins are always welcome.

In Case of Emergency…

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Categories: Dental emergency, Emergency Dentist

Knowing what to do when you’re faced with a dental emergency can be the difference between saving a tooth and losing one. In Fresno, the important thing to remember is that OnCall Dental is available 24/7.

A bad toothache at night, a chipped, cracked, or knocked out tooth, a lost filling or crown – there are lots of things that are considered dental emergencies. Even before you head to our office, there are things you can do at home:

  • If you get a cracked tooth, the first thing to do is clean out your mouth by rinsing with warm water. Cold compresses can help to keep the swelling down. Then get in your care and drive our office. (Better still, have someone drive you.)
  • Do the same thing if you bite your lip or tongue: clean it gently by rinsing it with water, and then apply a cold compress.
  • A lot of our emergencies involve a knocked out tooth. All it takes is an accidental an elbow to the jaw. If you have a knocked out tooth, time is a critical factor. Try putting the tooth back into your jaw, making sure not to touch its root. Don’t waste time with this, though; you could also place it between your cheek and gums, or even in some milk. The most important thing is to get professional help ASAP. If you see us within an hour of your accident, chances are good the tooth can be saved.

These are only a few of the dental emergencies we treat. There are so many others, like objects stuck between your teeth. Remember that no appointment is necessary at OnCall Dental in Fresno. Walk-ins are always welcome.

What To Do When a Tooth is Knocked Out

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Categories: Dental emergency

When someone’s tooth is knocked out, it is without question a dental emergency: one of the most serious there is, especially if it’s an adult tooth. It can be scary when it happens, but the good news is that if you head straight to OnCall Dental in Fresno, there is a very good chance the tooth can be saved.

In the case of a knocked out tooth, timing is everything. When we say “head straight to OnCall Dental,” that means get here as soon as possible. If you get here within thirty minutes of the tooth being knocked out, the chances are very good the tooth can be saved.

Even if it takes you longer to get here, though, don’t give up. It is possible to save the tooth even if it’s been more than an hour.

What To Do

Technically, a knocked out tooth is called an avulsed tooth. Most likely it will happen without warning: a fall from a bike, an elbow to the mouth on the basketball court: that’s all it takes.

Here is what you should do:

  1. Find the tooth and pick it up. It may be nestled within your clothing. It is important to pick it up by the crown only – the biting and chewing part – and never by the root.
  2. If there is dirt on it, rinse it gently with water. Do not use soap, toothpaste, or any other cleanser.
  3. If you can, reposition the tooth in the socket it came from. Use your fingers to press it gently in place. Hold it there with fingers, or by gently biting down.
  4. Keep the tooth moist. If you cannot get it into your mouth, place it in milk if you’ve got some handy. Don’t waste time looking for some, though. If you can’t get it into the socket and  there’s no milk available, you can put it in your mouth between the gums and your cheek.
  5. Head straight to our office.

Once you’re here and in our chair, leave it to us. We can re-insert it, and there is an excellent chance the tooth can be saved if you’ve gotten here quickly. We may need to hold it in place with a composite material; this may be necessary for a few days.

Getting a tooth knocked out happens more than five million times every year. It is a clear emergency, but we’ve had a lot of practice. You can call ahead on your way in, but you don’t need an appointment and walk-ins are always welcome. At OnCall Dental in Fresno emergency dental care is our specialty.

Dental Emergency?

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Categories: Dental emergency, Emergency Dentist

Everyone knows that pain is the body’s way of getting your attention, and saying that something is wrong. But how can you tell whether the pain in your mouth is something you can treat with an over-the-counter remedy, or requires a trip to OnCall Dental in Fresno?

Knowing when you should head into to our office is important, but so is knowing when not to! We have some thoughts on that.

  • A loose tooth. If it’s your kid, it’s probably no big deal. Children lose their teeth starting around the age of six or seven. But if you’re the one with the loose tooth, it’s anoher matter. Adults should never have loose teeth. A loose tooth may be the result of a trauma, a localized infectio or some other issue. Should you come to our office? Yes.
  • Bleeding gums. It’s not uncommon to see a little bleeding when you floss your teeth, especially if you don’t floss on a regular basis. It could, however,  be a sign of gum disease. And if the bleeding is excessive, or it happens over and over, you may be a problem. A trip to our office is a good idea.
  • A swollen jaw. Again, this could be result of a trauma. It might also be a sign of an infection. If it is accompanied by a fever, a foul taste in your mouth, or difficulty breathing or swallowing, you should absolutely head to our office.
  • Toothache. Our first question: how bad is the pain? Where would you place it on a scale of one to ten, with ten being the worst pain? If it’s a five or above, a trip to the office is in order. There are lots of different things that may be causing it, which will determine how we treat it.
  • Metallic taste in your mouth. If you’ve had metal fillings in the past, this may be an indication one of them has cracked or become loose. You may have an open filling, and that’s a serious matter. It could lead to new infections and cavities. A trip to our office is in order, right away.

At OnCall Dental in Fresno, emergency dental care is our specialty, and we don’t want you taking any unnecessary chances. You don’t need an appointment; walk-ins are always welcome.

Emergency? Remember OnCall Dental in Fresno

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Categories: Dental emergency, Emergency Dentist

If you have a dental emergency, OnCall Dental in Fresno should be the first place you call. Depending on the nature of the emergency, the sooner we get you in the office the better the chance of a successful outcome.

But first, ask yourself: is it a genuine emergency? If you have an accident involving your teeth or mouth, it doesn’t necessarily require immediate attention.

What Constitutes A Dental Emergency?

Here are some of the things you should consider:

  • Were you hit in the mouth or face?
  • Is there bleeding and/or swelling?
  • Are there any loose teeth?
  • Is there a lot of pain?
  • Are there any bulges, knots, or swelling in your gums?

If your answer to any of the above is yes, then you have a dental emergency and you should make a beeline to our office.

If you’ve knocked out a tooth, then there is absolutely no doubt: it’s an emergency, and we need to see you immediately. Knocked out teeth present a small window for treatment, but if we see you within that window – at most, about an hour – then the chances are good your tooth can be saved.

Accidents can happen at any time of the day or night. They can be frightening, but some dental issues, like a toothache or even a chipped tooth, can wait for regular office hours. We suggest calling us to be sure, and our phones are answered 24/7. But if there is no severe pain and no bleeding you may not require immediate treatment.

But if there is the slightest doubt, please call us at OnCall Dental in Fresno. Emergency dental care is our specialty. You don’t need an appointment; walk-ins are always welcome.