In the event of a dental emergency, call the Frederick Center for Dentistry at 301-264-5680. If your emergency is happening during business hours, call our office to discuss your concerns and schedule an appointment. We will return your message ASAP and attempt to schedule your appointment the next day.
Dr. Sahil Goyal and Dr. Anshu Goyal are emergency dentists in Frederick, Maryland. If you ever have any questions about your dental emergency or about the types of dental treatments open to you, we will help you get the answers you need.
Types of Dental Emergencies
There are many emergencies that we can fix, including:
- A chipped or fractured tooth
- Tooth abscess
- Dental infection
- Knocked out a permanent tooth
- Severe toothache
- Broken or lost dental restoration
Contact our Frederick dental office if you require urgent dental care. Our dentists ensure that patients feel comfortable during each and every dental procedure and examination.
Am I experiencing a dental emergency?
A dental problem qualifies as an emergency if it’s something occurs that needs treatment immediately and can’t wait. For instance, if you take a small cosmetic chip out of your tooth and don’t even feel it, that’s probably not an emergency. But if a large part of your tooth breaks off and you have blood and pain, that’s something that needs to be taken care of. Exposed nerves in your tooth can cause a lot of pain and invite bacteria inside the tooth.
While it’s difficult to do so, it’s important to panic as little as possible. Try to stay calm and level-headed and handle the situation. Do your best to recover any parts of your tooth or dental restoration so that your dentist can take a look. If there’s bleeding, use gauze or cloth to stop the flow of blood. Take over-the-counter pain medication to ease pain and use a cold compress to help with any swelling you’re experiencing.
Emergency Dentist versus the Emergency Room
When you have a severe injury, people usually turn to the the emergency room to get immediate care. But when it’s a dental emergency, they can’t treat you properly at a hospital. Only a licensed dentist is able to provide the correct treatment for a problem related to your teeth. Doctors usually don’t have a dentist on their staff, and they won’t be able to give you the care you need.
If you have something related to the soft tissue, however, an emergency room may be able to help with that. When there’s an injury to your cheek, for example, they can stitch up the wound. They’re also able to assist you if you’ve experienced trauma and may have a break to your jawbone or other facial bones.
Emergency Dental FAQs
What do I do if I have severe tooth pain?
You can take an over-the-counter pain reliever to temporarily stop symptoms of a severe toothache to numb the pain. In severe cases, your pain could be because of tooth decay or an abscess. Apply a cold compress or ice pack if you are experiencing swelling and inflammation.
Gently rinsing your mouth with warm saltwater can also help reduce inflammation and provide some relief. However, you should never solely rely on at-home remedies for toothaches. Schedule an appointment with our dentist if the pain persists.
What do I do if my dental filling or crown falls out or breaks?
Try to remain calm and avoid panicking if your filling or dental crown falls out. Locate it and do your best to keep it safe and clean. Place the filling or crown in a clean container or wrapping it in a tissue. Then gently rinse your mouth with warm saltwater solution to cleanse the area and alleviate any discomfort.
Until you see the dentist, avoid chewing on the affected side of your mouth because it can cause further damage. Next, contact our office immediately. We will construct a new dental restoration as soon as possible. Please do not attempt to re-glue your restoration back on your tooth.
What do I do if my denture or dental bridge breaks?
Remain calm and assess the extent of the damage to the denture or dental bridge. Do not attempt to put the broken prosthetic back in your mouth. Broken-off pieces and sharp edges could cause injury to your soft tissues.
Next, contact your dentist as soon as possible to explain the situation and schedule an appointment. You can try denture repair kits, available over-the-counter, for minor repairs. However, these fixes are only temporary until you get professional care from a restorative dentist.
Schedule an appointment at our office and bring the broken dental prosthetic with you. Dr. Goyal will determine the best treatment plan for replacing the denture or dental bridge. We will help you discover a solution that’s right for you.
What do I do if my tooth gets knocked out?
If your tooth has been knocked out, contact our office immediately. If possible, retrieve the lost tooth. Lightly rinse the tooth and place it in a cup of saliva or milk. A tooth that is preserved in this way may be able to be replaced. If we are not able to reattach the tooth, we offer dental implants, dental bridges, or dentures. It is important to replace missing teeth in order to prevent further dental problems.
What if I am afraid of the dentist but have a dental emergency?
If you suffer from dental anxiety, we can administer nitrous oxide or oral conscious sedation to help you feel more at ease. In addition, we explain the ins and outs of dental procedures to patients before every treatment so that they are comfortable with their treatment.
Please call our Frederick, Maryland dental office in the event of a dental emergency at 301-264-5680. If you need general, cosmetic, or restorative dental care, you may request an appointment with us online.