WHAT TO DO IF YOU BREAK A TOOTH AND HAVE A DENTAL EMERGENCY

An accident can damage your smile in the blink of an eye. Sure there are the obvious risks like contact sports, but you could also damage a tooth just by tripping over something and falling. If you have broken a tooth or have some other form of dental emergency, call Perrigo Dental Care at 205-545-8007 right away!

If you call during our normal office hours, we’ll do everything we can to get you a same-day appointment at our Birmingham, AL dentist office. If your emergency occurs when our office is closed for the day, you will be connected to our dentist to get some advice for your particular case.

Because we understand that dental emergencies aren’t limited to a nine to five schedule, we open our office early at 7:00 a.m. Monday through Friday and offer Saturday hours from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. as well.

If your dental emergency is causing you to bleed and you are unable to stop the flow, visit your local emergency room as soon as possible. Once the immediate threat to your health is addressed, you can follow up with us about your options to repair your smile.

Learn How To Handle A Broken Tooth Dental Emergency

You might not think that you are at much risk of breaking a tooth. You’re not a boxer. You don’t crunch down on ice or other hard things that could damage your teeth. But even so, it’s important that you know you can easily break a tooth during a freak accident.

You might be out sipping on a well-earned adult beverage after a long day at work when suddenly someone bumps you from behind, making you knock your glass or bottle against your front teeth.

Or perhaps you go to see a movie at your favorite theater. You’re munching on some delicious popcorn when you accidentally bite down – hard – on an unpopped kernel.

You could even break a tooth when you normally wouldn’t if you have unknowingly weakened your chompers because of teeth grinding or clenching.

Regardless of the cause, there are a few basic steps you should follow if you break a tooth. If possible, you should visit us as soon as possible in the case of a broken tooth, but your actions immediately following the damage are equally important. Here are a few basic guidelines if you break a tooth:

• Don’t panic – the situation may be scary, but if you can keep your cool, you may be able to save your tooth
• Stop any bleeding – apply very gentle pressure with a piece of gauze to stop the flow and encourage clotting
• Rinse your mouth – combine salt and warm water to make a saline solution you can swish around and clean your mouth
• Store tooth fragments – using a pair of nitrile or latex gloves, pick up any tooth fragments and place them in a small container filled with saliva or milk
• Take an over-the-counter pain reliever – alleviate some of your discomfort with a non-prescription medication
• Numb the area – apply an ice pack to reduce swelling and help reduce pain

As mentioned above, you should visit Perrigo Dental Care as soon as possible if you have broken a tooth. We will do everything we can to relieve your pain and repair your tooth.

If we are unable to reattach your tooth fragments, we will find the best solution to fix your particular problem. So you can make an informed decision, we will review your treatment options with you and answer any questions you might have.

Depending on your situation and the treatment we provide, we will numb your mouth with an anesthetic before we get to work. We can also help you relax with various comfort options, like:

• Soft pillows
• Warm blankets
• Aromatherapy options

We can also provide nitrous oxide dental sedation to help relieve your dental anxiety if you are still nervous. If there is anything that we can do to help put you at ease, please just let us know. Our friendly staff is here to help you get your smile back in comfort.

If you have broken a tooth or are experiencing some other dental emergency, call Perrigo Dental Care at 205-545-8007 immediately. Our caring and professional team will do everything we can to get you a same-day appointment at our Birmingham, AL dentist office. You can also visit us during office hours or use our handy online form to schedule or ask questions.