Emergency Dentistry

Are you experiencing a dental emergency? Our Happy Valley team is here for you. Simply give us a call to notify us of your needs. We will happily set aside time for you to come in, that same day if possible. We also offer tips for managing your emergency until then. If you experience a dental emergency outside of regular office hours, call right away and leave a voice mail. We’ll return your call quickly, and help you determine the next step in restoring your oral health.

 Tips for Dental Emergencies

In many cases, knowing a few, simple first aid skills before an emergency makes handling the unexpected a little less stressful. During almost any dental emergency, remembering the four ‘C’s will get you through.

• Call – Give our team a call, or if you are unable to, have a friend leave our team a detailed voice mail explaining your situation.
• Clean – Carefully rinse your mouth with warm water. If your tooth is knocked out, hold it by the biting surface and rinse any debris with water taking care not to remove natural tissue. Once the debris is removed, reinsert the tooth into its socket whenever possible. If you are unable to do this, store the tooth in a container of milk. If you experience a severe toothache, try brushing, flossing, and using an antimicrobial mouth rinse. In some situations, a small piece of food or debris lodged between teeth and gums causes significant discomfort. Never use sharp objects to pry debris from teeth. The goal of cleaning is to prevent infection that inhibits the body’s ability to heal. Do not brush, floss, or use other cleaning methods if you could additionally damage your smile in the process.
• Cold – Patients with soft tissue damage resulting in bleeding or trauma that leads to swelling, should apply an ice pack at 20 minute intervals (20 on/20 off). Ice helps to slow blood flow, relieve pain, and reduce swelling.
• Calm – Most importantly, try to stay calm. The more upset you become, the more difficult it is to quickly, safely get the help you need. Always remember, in the case of severe traumatic injuries, proceed to your local emergency room for help, and call our office on the way. We’ll be happy to assist with any dental reconstruction after your health is restored.

Find Out More Today

Explore our website to learn more about preventive services. If you’d like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Donnelly or Dr. Nomie, call our Happy Valley dental office today. We’re happy to offer gentle, personalized care for one-of-a-kind smiles.