We hope you never suffer a serious dental emergency. However, accidents do happen and we at Marcos Ortega DDS in San Diego want you to know that if and when they do, we’re available to help. Please consider calling our office if you or your family member is ever in need of emergency dental care in the San Diego area.
It’s vital, that you know what to do should an emergency situation arise. Here is a quiz on dental emergencies and other oral issues.
1. One of the wires on your braces breaks. What do you do?
a. Cut off the loose piece.
b. Put a piece of orthodontic wax on the end if it is irritating your tongue or gums. Schedule an appointment promptly with your orthodontist to have it fixed.
c. If the wire has cut your gums, rinse with a solution of salt and water.
Both b and c are correct. If you don’t have a piece of orthodontic wax, you can use a cotton ball to cover the sharp end. If you cut off the loose end of the wire, you risk swallowing it.
2. Your six-year-old falls on the driveway and knocks out a front tooth. What do you do before driving immediately to the nearest dental office or ER?
a. Put the tooth back in the socket.
b. If the tooth is dirty, scrub it with a brush.
c. Put the tooth in milk.
Baby tooth or permanent tooth? If a permanent tooth is knocked out, it may be successfully re-implanted if done quickly. Make sure you only hold the tooth by the crown, never touch the root. If the tooth is dirty, rinse it gently with water being cautious not to brush off any tissue attached. It possible, put the tooth back in the socket. This may not be possible with younger children.
Because it is essential to keep the tooth from drying out on your way to your dentist or nearest emergency room, you can put the tooth in a cup of milk. Baby teeth should not be reinserted because it can potentially damage the emerging tooth.
3. You lose a filling and the tooth starts hurting. After scheduling an appointment with your San Diego dentist, what do you do in the meantime?
a. Save the filling.
b. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever.
c. Put an aspirin on the tooth.
Both a and b are correct. Though your dentist can’t use the same filling to repair the problem, it may reveal useful information about the cause of the separation. Never put an aspirin on a tooth because the acid in it could irritate your gums.
4. One of your teeth suddenly darkens. What is a possible cause?
a. The nerve inside the tooth is damaged.
b. It is a side effect of a medication you are taking.
c. Gum disease.
d. An infection.
The answer is all of the above.
For any dental emergency or other general or cosmetic dental treatments, please consider calling our office or Marcos Ortega DDS in the San Diego area. We have been providing quality dental care for residents since 1986. If you add our address and phone number (619-295-4545) to your phone contacts right now, you won’t have to search for it in the case of an emergency. Remember, when treating a dental emergency every minute counts. We invite you to call our office today for an appointment or consultation.
Contact Marcos Ortega DDS:
619-295-4545
Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):
306 Walnut Ave Ste 25
San Diego, California
92103