Dental Emergencies

Dental emergencies can happen to anyone, no matter how careful you are! Like most emergencies, you don’t plan for them. Maybe you’re playing sports with your friends, you trip on a rug and fall, or experience a hit to the face. Dr. Suzanne Haeri will get you an appointment as soon as possible, to the best of her ability. In the meantime, it’s important to understand what you should and shouldn’t do while you wait.

 

The first step is to contact our Los Angeles office immediately. If you can’t reach us, consider going to your local emergency room. Otherwise, here is a simplified list of dental emergencies and how to treat them:

 

-Lost filling: try to locate the filling. While you wait for your replacement, use sugarless gum to protect the area from harm.

-Loose crown: if you have the crown, attempt to place it back on the tooth. If you have to wait for an appointment, over-the-counter denture cement can keep the crown in place.

-Severe toothache: the first thing you must do is check that nothing is lodged between the teeth. Caught food or debris are possible culprits. Clean the areas thoroughly. If the toothache continues, call our office right away.

-Chipped or broken tooth: rinse out your mouth, saving as much of the tooth as possible. You’ll need to keep an icepack applied to your face. This prevents further swelling. Switch these out every 15 minutes while waiting for your emergency appointment.

-Dislodged tooth: these are teeth that haven't been knocked out all the way. You mustn’t touch the tooth at all. Keep the area clean and take anti-inflammatory medication. These help with the swelling before the appointment.

-Knocked out tooth: find the tooth and clean it well. In certain cases, your dentist may re-attach it. Try to place the tooth back in the area it came from. If it doesn’t stay, place it in some cold milk or salt-water. You will need to see us right away.

 

There are other less urgent problems Dr. Haeri helps with. These include abscessed or swollen teeth, cheeks, and lips. She may also treat cut tongues or lips.

 

Contact Dr. Suzanne Haeri right away when experiencing a dental emergency. Our office in Los Angeles, CA, will get you an appointment as soon as possible. To reach us, call 310-657-2200. You can also visit our website for more information.