When you experience a dental emergency, knowing who to contact is important. 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
Call Baltimore Dental Co. to schedule an emergency dental examination when facing a dental emergency. Dental emergencies often worsen with time, so please reach out immediately. If you have 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, prepare to describe your injury or situation. Our administrative team will provide detailed notes for the clinical staff, which will help 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 and Toothache
A toothache can disrupt your day. We will generally see you at our next appointment to determine your pain’s root cause. 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 antibiotics before meeting with our dental professionals. An antibiotic will not address the underlying cause and can make the issue difficult to identify. 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 severe toothache, swollen gums, a lesion on the gums, and/or a fever. Some patients may experience an abscess and have very minor symptoms. We require current diagnostic x-rays to diagnose a dental abscess.
A tooth abscess requires emergency dental care, so please contact us as soon as possible. If left untreated, the infection can enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body. The only way to treat an abscess is to visit your dentist. Use over-the-counter pain relievers, ice packs, and saltwater rinses for temporary relief. Never attempt to drain the abscess yourself, and never apply heat, as this can cause the infection to spread.
A Loose or Fallen Out Filling
Call Baltimore Dental Co. to schedule an appointment to address your filling dilemma. A loose or lost filling is a dental concern because it may expose the delicate dentin tooth structure. 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 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. Until we handle your concern, avoid eating and drinking at extreme temperatures. It is also 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. Contact our friendly staff if you are unsure if your situation qualifies as an emergency. We are happy to help you determine how swiftly you should act.
What’s the most common dental emergency?
Tooth pain and aches are the most common. There are so many causes of tooth pain that it can be hard to determine the exact issue. Tooth pain should never be ignored, especially if it’s sharp or comes on suddenly. You’ll likely require our office’s x-rays and other diagnostic tools to pinpoint what’s wrong. It’s always better to check things out when you start experiencing issues.
How do you handle a dental emergency?
The biggest thing is to try to avoid panic, though it may be hard. To preserve any tooth or restoration that’s fallen out or broken, pick it up. Use gauze to stop bleeding and a cold compress for swelling. Then, call our office. We will see new and existing dental patients at our next appointment opening. Depending on the state of your emergency, we will evaluate you within a few business days, but generally quicker.
What should I do if I experience a dental emergency on 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 your pharmacy for a prescription if appropriate. Unfortunately, we cannot 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. With swelling, it is important to manage the amount of inflammation. If you become extremely swollen, it becomes a concern that your airway may become obstructed.
Can I have a dental emergency even if I care my teeth well?
While caring for your teeth properly lessens your chances of an emergency, it can’t prevent everything. Accidents can happen to anyone at any time. Something as simple as biting down on something wrong can chip or break a tooth or restoration. Mouthguards can help prevent issues while playing sports, but you don’t wear a protective mouthguard every minute.
When should I go to the ER for a dental emergency?
If you’re experiencing swelling, you may require an antibiotic to maintain an open airway. We are happy to help you with this process if you’re a patient of record.
Suppose you do not currently have a dentist and are concerned about the amount of inflammation you are experiencing. In that case, you may need to visit the emergency room if a dental office cannot see you immediately. The ER can only 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. at 410.833.4664. We are here to help and will schedule an appointment with you as soon as we are available.
Contact Baltimore Dental Co. If You Have a Dental Emergency
Dr. Leah Romay provides emergency dentistry in Glyndon, MD, for her patients. If you suspect you’re dealing with a dental emergency, contact Baltimore Dental Co. at 410.833.4664. Our office treats patients of all ages. We are here to help you and will schedule an appointment as soon as we are available.