If you are contending with tooth pain, an infection, or otherwise urgently need to see a dentist, Dr. Landon Libby and our skilled doctors offer many services that can address your immediate dental needs. We are committed to providing swift care in the event of unexpected pain or a sudden dental injury. No matter the severity of your situation, dental emergencies can be frightening and uncomfortable. If you or a loved one is in need, don’t hesitate to contact Libby Dental at our Mission Valley-area office. When you call ahead for urgent care, we make it our effort to aid you as soon as possible. If you are unable to stop into our office, we can also offer temporary care by offering a few tips over the phone.
What’s Considered a Dental Emergency?
Emergencies involving the face or mouth and requiring immediate care include jaw fractures and dislocations, serious soft-tissue injuries, and abscesses with severe swelling, among other situations. Other possible cases requiring urgent dental care include:
- Severe toothache
- Recently broken tooth
- Moderate to severe soft tissue injury
- Swollen or infected gum tissue
- Severe jaw pain
- Tooth abscess
Emergency dentistry is not right for every incident. If you are immunocompromised or have a serious illness, it is especially important to get treated by emergency medical personnel. Situations that require you to call 911 or go directly to the hospital include a sudden impact to the head or neck, severe swelling or bleeding, or difficulty breathing or swallowing. When your symptoms do not stem from these frightening emergencies, we can help you by relieving pain and restoring your health.
What Should You Do in a Dental Emergency?
No matter how well you care for your teeth and gums, a dental emergency can happen when you least expect it. Our team understands that there are some dental concerns that simply require immediate attention. While suffering an injury or an unexpected dental complication can be stressful, rest assured that our dentists are committed to providing proactive treatment for your emergency dental needs.
A dental emergency needs treatment as soon as possible. If you are unsure if you have a dental emergency, call our office and talk to a member of our staff. Together, we can decide how soon you need to see a dentist. If you need help right away, we can schedule a same-day appointment so you can start feeling better as soon as possible.
What Emergency Dental Services are Available at Libby Dental?
We will do whatever we can to evaluate your injury as soon as possible and determine the best course of action for your needs. Among the many types of dental emergencies that our team can provide timely care for include:
Tooth Trauma
An avulsed, or “knocked out,” tooth is one of the most common dental injuries sustained by patients around the world. While accidental tooth loss often occurs among children, adults can also suffer tooth trauma, whether resulting from a fall, sudden blow to the face, or a sports-related incident. Fortunately, a knocked out tooth may be replanted in certain cases if a patient acts swiftly.
Some tips to increase the likelihood of saving a tooth include:
- Pick up the tooth by the chewing surface (never the root) and gently rinse off any dirt using lukewarm water. Do not use soap or cleaning agents, and do not submerge the tooth in water.
- Keep the tooth moist at all times, either by placing it in your mouth or in a glass of milk.
- Try to place your tooth back in its socket right away if possible.
- See our dentists as soon as you can, ideally within 30 to 60 minutes of the tooth being displaced.
If your tooth has been fractured but was not uprooted from the gums, we can also repair damage with custom-made dental crowns. These restorations are placed over the top of a tooth to strengthen the enamel and protect it from further injury.
Situations Requiring a Tooth Extraction
While we will always do everything in our power to save a compromised tooth, there are many reasons why a tooth extraction may be necessary. When misaligned teeth are too crowded in the mouth, a dentist may recommend extraction to create more room for orthodontic treatment. This may also be the case for teeth that have not erupted, or broken through the gumline. In other situations, an extraction can be the best solution when treating an infection or addressing a severely damaged or decayed tooth.
As long as the procedure is performed by an experienced dentist, tooth extraction is considered very safe and predictable. Dr. Libby will usually numb the affected area with a local anesthetic to minimize discomfort during treatment. The extraction site generally takes one to two weeks to heal, after which our dentists can replace your tooth with a natural-looking restoration, such as a dental implant or dental bridge.
Libby Dental is conveniently located in Mission Valley for your dental emergency needs. Our compassionate dental team is trained to handle dental emergencies with quality care. For an experienced dentist, please call to schedule an appointment or to voice any of your concerns.
We Are Your Mission Valley Dentist For Emergency Dentistry!
Libby Dental is conveniently located for your dental emergency needs. Our compassionate dental team is trained to handle dental emergencies with quality care. For an experienced dentist in the Mission Valley area, call to schedule an appointment or to voice any of your concerns.
