At Maplewood Dental Arts we offer after hours emergency dental services to our Gorham, Westbrook and southern Maine patients. Emergency treatment can include simple extractions, diagnosis, and treatment to relieve pain and discomfort, a sedative filling or a temporary filling.
Stay calm. Focus on stopping the bleeding and protecting the injured tooth or area by following the applicable instructions in this section. If your emergency is life-threatening, dial 911 for Emergency Medical Services or go immediately to a hospital emergency room.
The most common causes are debris lodged under the gum line, a lost filling or crown, a cracked or broken tooth, or an infection. Call the office to set up an appointment so we can determine the underlying cause of severe pain. Until you see the dentist apply ice to the painful area for 10-20 minutes of every hour.
Do not move your jaw. Secure your jaw in place with a handkerchief, necktie, or towel tied around the jaw and over the top of the head. Use cold compresses to reduce swelling. Go to the emergency room immediately.
It may be possible to reattach the pieces to your tooth. Take the following steps and contact the office immediately for an emergency appointment. Remember to take the pieces with you.
Contact the office immediately. If the child’s baby tooth is completely knocked out, chances are it cannot be re-implanted. If this happens, the missing tooth will be replaced naturally when the child’s permanent (adult) tooth grows in. Orthodontic space maintenance may be needed if the tooth knocked out is one that will not be replaced by the adult tooth for years. Your dentist will determine if space maintenance is necessary.
There is a 1-2 hour window in which your tooth has a chance for re-implantation. Take the following steps and contact the office immediately for an emergency appointment. Remember to bring your protected tooth with you.
Call and schedule an appointment. You can relieve pain caused by air in contact with the exposed part of your tooth by using clove oil which is available over-the-counter in pharmacies and supermarkets. Just dip a cotton swab in clove oil and apply it to the exposed part of your tooth. Putting an ice pack on your face over the area that hurts also may relieve the pain.
Clean your mouth out by rinsing thoroughly with warm water. Gently floss around the tooth to remove any food particles that may be trapped between your teeth or just under your gum line. If your tooth continues to hurt contact the office for an emergency appointment.
You should see us right away because gum pain or swelling can be the symptoms of an abscess (infection) that forms in gum tissue or in a tooth’s root and the area that surrounds it. Call the office for an emergency appointment right away. There are many reasons why gums can swell, become painful, or abscess. Only a thorough exam can identify the underlying cause.
If the abscess ruptures, you may experience a sudden rush of foul-smelling and foul-tasting fluid from the swollen or painful area. Rinse your mouth with warm water immediately.