When you experience a dental emergency, it’s important to know who to contact. Seeking a Baltimore Dental Co. dentist’s professional opinion will help you figure out the underlying dental health issues that caused your dental emergency in the first place.
Baltimore Dental Co. is your trusted Baltimore County, MD dental practice. We provide compassionate and effective oral health solutions to help patients resolve their immediate dental emergencies while also helping them avoid future dental concerns.
EMERGENCY DENTISTRY IN GLYNDON, MD
When facing a dental emergency, call Baltimore Dental Co. to schedule an emergency dental examination. Dental emergencies often worsen with time, so please reach out immediately. If you are having an issue outside of regular business hours, leave us a message and our helpful staff will return your call the morning of our next business day.
When you contact us, be prepared to describe your injury or situation. Our administrative team will provide detailed notes for the clinical staff, which will help to expedite your appointment and allow us to provide the care you need as quickly as possible.
Some common emergency dental concerns are reviewed below.
SEVERE TOOTH PAIN OR TOOTHACHE
A toothache can disrupt your day. We will generally see you at our next available appointment to determine the root cause of your pain. While waiting to be seen, you may use over-the-counter pain medication and ice packs to control the pain and any inflammation, as needed. If you do not have severe swelling, it is best to avoid taking antibiotics prior to meeting with our dental professionals. An antibiotic will not address the underlying cause and can make the issue difficult to identification. In many situations, an antibiotic is not necessary. We will work to resolve the cause of your toothache and restore your dental health as quickly as possible.
DENTAL ABSCESS
A dental abscess is an infection that may cause a severe toothache, swollen gums, a lesion on the gums, and/or a fever. Some patients may experience an abscess and have very minor symptoms. Current diagnostic x-rays are required to diagnosis a dental abscess.
A tooth abscess requires emergency dental care so please contact us as soon as possible. The infection can enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body if left untreated. The only way to treat an abscess is by visiting your dentist.
For temporary relief, use over-the-counter pain relievers, ice packs, and saltwater rinses. Never attempt to drain the abscess yourself, and never apply heat as this can cause the infection to spread.
A LOOSE FILLING OR FILLING THAT HAS FALLEN OUT
Call Baltimore Dental Co. to schedule an appointment addressing your filling dilemma. A loose filling or lost filling is a dental concern because it may leave the delicate dentin tooth structure exposed. Without timely intervention, the tooth can become damaged or infected, leading to discomfort.
We recommend contacting our office right away. You may want to gently rinse with warm water to remove debris and avoid chewing on that tooth to prevent damage and discomfort.
BROKEN, CRACKED, OR CHIPPED TOOTH
Depending on the extent of the damage, a chipped tooth or a broken tooth may or may not be an emergency. However, it is important to always contact us right away and describe what happened. Even minor tooth damage can weaken a tooth, creating vulnerability to further damage, infection, and tooth loss. Until your appointment, keep the area as clean as possible and avoid chewing on the cracked tooth.
MISSING, BROKEN, OR LOOSE DENTAL CROWN OR BRIDGE
A damaged or lost dental crown is considered an emergency because it leaves the tooth weak and vulnerable to further structural damage. Bacteria may enter the tooth, leading to a painful infection. Schedule an emergency examination at Baltimore Dental Co. to address your missing restoration.
It is common to experience tooth sensitivity when a crown or bridge is no longer attached to a tooth. Avoid food and drink at extreme temperatures until we handle your concern. It is best to avoid chewing on exposed or vulnerable teeth. If the bridge or crown fell out, please bring it to your appointment so we may evaluate the structural integrity.
KNOCKED-OUT TOOTH
If your entire tooth is dislodged from your mouth due to a traumatic accident, pick up the tooth by the crown and do not touch the roots. Ideally, keep the tooth in your mouth next to your cheek so that it is hydrated by saliva. Alternatively, you can place it in a cup of milk. Do not put it in water. Please contact our office immediately so that we can evaluate the situation. Sometimes the tooth can be re-implanted. Please note that this is only true if it is a completely intact tooth, not fractured into separate parts.
EMERGENCY DENTISTRY FAQS
Here are some answers to frequently asked questions regarding emergency dentistry:
WHAT QUALIFIES AS A DENTAL EMERGENCY?
Many situations qualify as a dental emergency. Sudden tooth pain, swelling, a gum lesion resembling a pimple, tooth loss, excessive gum bleeding, broken teeth, detached dental crowns, and broken bridges should be discussed with our office as soon as possible. If you are unsure if your situation qualifies as an emergency, contact our friendly staff. We are happy to help guide you in determining how swiftly you should act.
HOW DO YOU HANDLE A DENTAL EMERGENCY?
We will see new and existing dental patients at our next appointment opening. You will be evaluated within a few business days but generally quicker depending on the state of your emergency.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I EXPERIENCE A DENTAL EMERGENCY OVER THE WEEKEND?
Please call our office and leave a voicemail in our main mailbox and we will contact you when our office reopens. Patients of record may reach out to the emergency doctor line. The doctor may call in a prescription to your pharmacy, if appropriate. Unfortunately, we are unable to call in prescriptions if you are not a patient of record.
If you are experiencing pain, you should take over-the-counter pain management medication. If you are experiencing swelling, it is important to manage the amount of inflammation you are experiencing. If you become extremely swollen, it becomes a concern that your airway may become obstructed.
WHEN SHOULD I GO TO THE ER FOR A DENTAL EMERGENCY?
If you are experiencing extreme swelling, an antibiotic may be required to maintain an open airway. If you are a patient of record, we are happy to help you with this process. If you do not currently have a dentist and are concerned about the amount of inflammation you are experiencing, you may need to visit the emergency room if a dental office is unable to see you immediately. The ER will only be able to prescribe antibiotics and will not address the root cause of the swelling – you will still need to be seen by a dentist as soon as possible.
If you suspect you’re dealing with a dental emergency, contact Baltimore Dental Co. today at 410.833.4664. We are here to help and will schedule you for our earliest available appointment.