Find out whether the dental issues you are dealing with require immediate medical attention.

From getting hit in the face while playing sports to a loose orthodontic wire, there are many scenarios that may leave you wondering, “Do I need to see a dentist?” It’s important to know when you are dealing with a true dental emergency so that you can turn to our West Hartford, CT, dentists right away. Here are the most common dental emergencies and how to best handle these issues.

Toothache

This is one of the most common dental emergencies and unfortunately one that many people don’t treat until it’s too late. A toothache can be caused by a variety of things but the most common cause is a cavity. If a cavity isn’t treated the decay will continue to spread until it breaks through the hard enamel and dentin layers and infects the inside of the tooth (known as the dental pulp).

Once decay has entered the inside of the tooth root canal therapy is necessary to treat the problem. If you are dealing with a toothache the best thing you can do is call our West Hartford, CT, general dentist to make an immediate appointment.

Knocked-Out Tooth

This is a common sports-related injury and while a knocked-out tooth can be scary, if you act quickly and see your dentist right away the tooth can be placed back in the socket and saved. Of course, this requires treating the issue immediately. Don’t even give us a call; just come right into our office. Place the tooth between the cheek and the gums to keep it moist, or place it in a container of milk. If treated within one hour of the injury the natural tooth has the best chances of being preserved.

Broken Tooth

If you cracked or broke a tooth this is another reason to see your dentist immediately. Make sure to save any broken pieces of the tooth. Rinse your mouth out with warm water to remove any debris. If you notice any facial swelling or pain around the area, apply a cold compress to that side of the face. Bring any pieces of the tooth into the office. If the piece is large enough we may be able to bond it back on; however, if the damage is severe we may need to place a dental crown over the tooth to preserve it.

Don’t ignore a dental emergency. If you or your child is dealing with any of the issues above it’s important that you drop what you’re doing and call our West Hartford, CT, dental practice. Here at Comprehensive Dental Care we pride ourselves on providing patients of all ages with the immediate care they need when accidents happen.