We have prepared this short list of commonly asked questions and their answers for your convenience. If your dental emergency requires immediate treatment, please call our office at 480.899.6677.
What should I do if a tooth is knocked out during an accident?
What should I do if a tooth is knocked out during an accident?
Remain calm. If your child's tooth is knocked out during office hours, but there is no imminent medical emergency such as uncontrolled bleeding, unconsciousness, or other bodily injury, please contact us immediately [480.899.6677]. Do not scrub or wash the tooth; simply place it in a container of milk, saline or tooth preservative [available at a pharmacy or emergency room]. See a dentist as soon as possible, preferably within 30 minutes. Don't forget to take the tooth with you. With prompt attention, a permanent tooth may be reimplanted into the tooth socket and remain normal and healthy.
What do I need to do if my jaw is swollen and I have a painful tooth?
You may have an abscessed tooth. Place something cold such as an ice bag on the swollen area and take 2-3 Ibuprofen (Advil) tablets to decrease the pain and swelling. Avoid chewing or eating in this area, rest, drink plenty of fluids, and call for an appointment.
My tooth is sensitive to cold.
Many things can cause cold sensitivity in teeth: Gum recession, recent fillings, trauma to the tooth (biting down on hard or crunchy food), bleaching, and others. Cold sensitivity can be temporary. If it persists for more than 2-3 weeks, call for an appointment and avoid very cold liquids and food.
I have new fillings and my teeth don’t seem to fit together well.
You may need to schedule for a bite adjustment. Continuing to eat with an ill-fitting bite can cause tooth sensitivity (cold or pressure) or pain.
I have a metallic taste in my mouth.
A metallic taste in your mouth usually means you have a leaking silver filling. You may want to schedule an examination to evaluate your old fillings.
I just had a tooth removed and the site is still bleeding. What should I do?
Take a piece of moist gauze rolled up and bite down on it with pressure on the site for 45 minutes. If bleeding continues, try biting on a moist tea bag until bleeding stops. If heavy bleeding persists for more than 2 hours call our office or after hours number.
I have pain in my tooth when I bite on something hard.
You may have a cracked tooth. Pain on release of biting pressure is a strong indication of cracked tooth syndrome. Crown treatment is indicated to prevent the crack from extending deeper into the tooth, possibly resulting in a root canal or tooth removal. Call our office as soon as possible.
What should I do if my temporary crown comes off or it breaks?
First of all, call our office as soon as possible. We may be able to tell you how to put a temporary back on yourself with Vaseline. And if a temporary breaks, we need to see you as soon as possible to replace it. Leaving a temporary crown off for more than a couple of days may affect the fit of the permanent crown.
Avoid the area and call for the next available appointment.
What do I do if I have an emergency and the office is closed?
In case of a true dental emergency, call our emergency number [480.731.2655] and leave a message as to the nature of your condition. We will return the call as soon as possible, and arranging to see you in person as needed.
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