Emergency Dentist – Owasso, OK
Call Us When Urgent Dental Care Is Needed
Did your tooth just start hurting out of nowhere? Were you in an accident that left a severe crack in your enamel? Dental emergencies can come in many different forms, but the need to seek prompt treatment from a professional is always the same. Call our Owasso dental office immediately if you need emergency dental care. We’ll schedule a same-day dental appointment whenever we can so that Dr. Lim can start working on your emergency treatment plan sooner rather than later.
Why Choose Life Smiles of Owasso for Emergency Dentistry?
- Same-Day Emergency Treatments
- Highly Trained, Knowledgeable Dentist
- State-of-the-Art Technology
How We Treat Dental Emergencies
To ensure that our patients get the high-quality care they deserve when it counts the most, we follow these four steps when it comes to treating dental emergencies:
- Emergency Appointment: When you call our office, we’ll determine whether emergency care is needed and schedule an emergency appointment for you. We may also give you some advice for keeping your smile safe from further damage.
- Emergency Exam: Our team can use the latest technology to figure out what’s going on in your mouth. It’s important for us to determine the true cause of your emergency so that it can be dealt with appropriately.
- Review Findings: We’ll share the results of our emergency exam with you and answer any questions you might have. Then we’ll let you know what kind of treatment may be needed to put you back on the path toward good oral health.
- Get Your Smile the Care It Needs: Whether it’s a root canal treatment or another type of dental service, we’ll do whatever is necessary to resolve your emergency and protect your grin.
The Most Common Dental Emergencies
There are many kinds of dental issues that can potentially qualify as emergencies. Even if you’re not completely sure that your situation is urgent, you should give our office a call as soon as possible so that our team can advise you on your next steps. Please reach out to us if you are currently experiencing any of the symptoms below.
Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies
Make no mistake, our team at Life Smiles of Owasso is here to help with everything from routine checkups to same-day emergency care. Since the latter can come with pain and stress, however, we want to help you avoid toothaches, cracked teeth, swollen gums, and the like whenever possible. With this in mind, keep reading to learn a few ways you can help prevent dental emergencies.
Visit Your Dentist Twice a Year
Believe it or not, your biannual visits to our office play a crucial role in preventing serious dental injuries. That’s because we scan for oral cancer, tooth decay, gum disease, damaged restorations, and other common issues during the exam, ensuring that they are detected and treated as early as possible. Of course, the cleaning is important as well since it allows us to clean the hard-to-reach areas of your mouth, remove built-up plaque and tartar, and polish your teeth.
Commit to Good Dental Care At Home
Naturally, committing to a good dental care regimen at home is important too! To prevent cavities and gum disease while also keeping any existing dental work in pristine condition, we recommend brushing for two minutes each morning and evening with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste. At night, floss and rinse with an antimicrobial mouthwash as well.
Stick to a Well-Balanced, Nutritious Diet
Just like foods with added sugar can lead to tooth decay, foods that are extremely crunchy can chip, crack, or fracture a tooth. That’s why we recommend exercising caution with tortilla chips, hard pretzels, peanut brittle, and the like. Instead, focus on adding foods to your plate that help keep your teeth and gums healthy, like plain yogurt, oatmeal, carrots, and apples.
Wear a Mouthguard During Sports
You likely already know the importance of wearing a mouthguard during contact sports like football and wrestling. But did you know that surfers, skateboarders, and runners are also encouraged to wear one? In fact, anyone who participates in solo sports like these should to help prevent dental damage from an accident, like a bad fall.
Tip: If you don’t have a mouthguard, don’t buy one from your local sporting goods store. Get one that fits comfortably and is the appropriate thickness based on the activity you participate in. We can help with that!
Break Bad Habits
There are some bad habits that are widely known, like using tobacco products. Others, however, aren’t as obvious. A few examples include tearing into plastic wrapping with your teeth, biting your nails, and chewing on ice cubes. These all increase your chances of experiencing dental damage, so do your best to quit, even if you haven’t run into any issues thus far.
Dental Emergency FAQs
How should I sleep with tooth pain?
It can be challenging to get a good night’s sleep when you are suffering from a toothache. Until you are able to seek help from a dentist in the morning, keep your head elevated. This will prevent blood from rushing to your head and intensifying your toothache. Additionally, take over-the-counter pain relievers as necessary and avoid foods that are particularly acidic, cold, or hard right before bed for improved comfort. A cold compress can also help to dull some of the discomfort.
My chipped tooth doesn’t hurt. Do I still need to visit?
You should always schedule an appointment with a dentist following a chipped tooth. Despite there not being any pain, you won’t know for sure if the inner area of the tooth is exposed until it is examined by a dentist. However, you don’t necessarily have to drop everything you are doing and head straight to the dental office. Just do your best to schedule a visit in the next few days.
What should I keep in my emergency dentistry kit?
It is always a good idea to have an emergency dentistry kit put together just in case you find yourself or a family member with a dental emergency. Here are some of the key items that you should include:
- Small container for teeth and restorations
- Sterile gloves
- Gauze pads
- Cotton balls
- Denture adhesive
- Petroleum jelly
- Anti-inflammatories (like ibuprofen)
- Orajel, or another topical anesthetic
- Floss
- Ice pack
- The contact information of an emergency dentist
What does chronic bad breath mean?
Chronic bad breath, also called “halitosis,” is different than just having morning breath or bad breath after eating something garlicky. Usually, halitosis is a sign of another issue that cannot be addressed with just mouthwash or mints. These issues include gum disease, cavities, and other dental infections. If your bad breath isn’t going away after a few days, give us a call so we can examine your smile. This way, we can check for underlying issues and have them addressed.
Can I pop a dental abscess on my own?
No! You should never attempt to pop a dental abscess on your own. You should always get in touch with a dentist right away. A dental abscess is considered to be a dental infection and therefore an emergency. Popping it will only expose your mouth to additional bacteria and cause irritation. Additionally, putting off treatment can allow the infection to speak to other areas of the body, like the neck, throat, and head.