Dental Emergency

Common Dental Emergencies

There are some things that you, as the patient, can do after the emergency and before your appointment with Dr. Keith, Dr. Gibbs, or Dr. Wang, including:

• Broken Dental Appliance: When a dental appliance, such as a bridge, partial or full denture, breaks, we will want to see you immediately. We will want you to bring the broken appliance with you to your appointment. Be sure to bring every piece, even if it is small or seems insignificant. We can make repairs, place a temporary, or customize a new appliance as needed.

• Unusual Implant Pain: If you are experiencing unusual pain at your implant site, we will want to see you immediately. Whether a dull ache or sharp pain, we will want to see what is going on. Call us immediately for an evaluation. Before your appointment, we recommend placing an ice pack to reduce possible inflammation and pain. Over-the-counter pain relief medication can be taken as prescribed on the bottle before you are seen.

• Sore Spots from Appliance: A common complaint from patients who wear dental appliances such as partial dentures or full dentures is having sore spots where the appliance rubs. We can help. Sometimes adjustments need to be made to help with a more comfortable fit. We can also offer tips, such as applying small amounts of wax to lessen discomfort while adjusting to your new appliance.

• Unusual Bleeding: Unusual bleeding is always considered an emergency. We want to hear from you immediately if you are experiencing bleeding that is heavy or does not seem to be stopping. Be sure to write down every medication you are taking before your appointment and inform us of any medical problems you may be experiencing such as diabetes and heart issues. We will also want to know if you smoke tobacco, which can slow your healing process.