FAQs About Emergency Dentist in Silver Spring, MD

What if I need an emergency dentist in Silver Springs, MD?

A dental emergency can happen to anyone at any age, and usually at the worst possible time. Spring Dental Associates understands this, and is here to help you when you have tooth and gum problems unexpectedly.

A dental emergency usually involves pain, discomfort or swelling. Patients often try to fix the problem or come up with an interim solution themselves. Sometimes that works, but often the pain just gets worse. That’s when it is time for an emergency dentist visit in Silver Springs, MD.

Oral health problems seldom fix themselves. A professional can assess the problem and deal with the immediate symptoms. Then he can schedule a follow-up visit to deal with it more fully.

How can I tell if it is a dental emergency?

Answer these questions to determine if you have a dental emergency:

• Is it painful, throbbing, or severe?
• Is there swelling in your mouth or facial area?
• Do you have knots or swelling or bulges in your gums?
• Are you bleeding in the mouth area?
• Are any teeth loose?
• Were you hit or suffer trauma in the face or mouth?

If the answer is yes, then you most likely have a dental emergency. Call your dentist, describe what happened, the condition of your teeth and gums, and how you feel. Together you can determine if you need to come in for an emergency dentist visit in Silver Springs, MD.

What are common dental emergencies?

Chipped or fractured tooth: If the tooth is chipped and it doesn’t hurt, you can schedule an appointment for regular dental office hours. Be careful about chewing so you don’t make the condition worse.

If the tooth is fractured or cracked, affecting both the exterior and interior of the tooth, and it hurts, you have an emergency. Call for an emergency dentist visit in Silver Springs, MD.

Meanwhile, rinse out your mouth with warm water, swishing gently. Use cold compresses to reduce swelling. Do NOT use Orajel or put a painkiller directly on the gum. This can burn the tissue. You can take acetaminophen, but not aspirin, for pain.

Knocked out tooth: Time is critical. Try to get to your dentist within 30 minutes of the tooth coming out. There is a good chance he can re-insert it and save the tooth.

If you tooth is knocked out, pick it up by the crown, not the root and rinse it off gently. Try to place it back in the tooth socket and bite down gently to keep it in place. If that’s not possible, put the tooth in a in a small amount of milk or a clean container.

Toothache, swelling and pain: this is often caused by an infection or abscess. It is serious and can be life threatening. Deal with it right away—call for an emergency dentist visit in Silver Springs, MD. He can open the tooth to allow the abscess to drain, prescribe antibiotics and schedule an appointment for a root canal.