In a dental emergency, contact us immediately when you need urgent dental care at 432-287-9531. Dr. Michael Courter provides emergency dentistry services for his patients in his North Midland, TX, dental office. Emergency dentistry is a general dentistry service for our Permian Basin patients.
Call your dentist when you have a damaged tooth or severe oral pain. Receiving immediate dental care after you notice a problem is also key to your recovery. Prompt, professional care gives you the best chance of keeping your teeth and gums intact. Dr. Courter will make every effort to see you as soon as possible. He aims to provide expert care in a safe, caring atmosphere.
Please do not put off your oral health care and contact our office if you are unsure if your dental problem is an emergency. Our team will help you determine the next steps to minimize pain or dysfunction. Dr. Courter and his team are here to help you.
Do I Have a Dental Emergency?
Sometimes, it can be difficult to tell if your oral health issue is a dental emergency. An emergency can’t wait for you to schedule a regular dental appointment. If you experience extreme pain or bleeding, this is something that’s an emergency.
A broken tooth can toe the line. Small cosmetic chips or cracks with no pain can wait for a routine appointment. But if you experience pain or excessive bleeding, make sure you call our office immediately.
How to Address Common Emergency Dentistry Problems in Midland, TX
A dental emergency might mean that your tooth has some physical trauma after a blow to the face. But it could also result from an infection due to poor oral hygiene.
Dr. Courter will examine the damage carefully (which might involve taking an X-ray) before recommending treatment. The most common emergencies that our dental office can fix include the following.
Tooth Pain and Toothaches.
Call us if you are experiencing sudden and severe tooth pain. First, rinse your mouth with warm water and floss thoroughly around the affected tooth. There might be wedged food particles or plaque between the teeth, causing you pain. You can use an over-the-counter painkiller while waiting for your appointment. Don’t place aspirin on your gums, which could cause a burn.
If toothaches are a regular occurrence, you may have a tooth or gum infection. Dental pain can make regular activities uncomfortable and can be a sign of a more severe problem. Contact our office to help you find the best treatment for your pain.
Knocked-Out Permanent Teeth.
If you have just knocked out one of your permanent teeth, please try to locate it and get to our dental office as soon as possible. If you wait too long, you could lose your chance to save the tooth.
Hold the tooth by the crown, or the top part normally visible in your mouth, and rinse it in cool water. Place the tooth in a cup of cold milk or saline solution for transport to our office.
Sometimes, we can reattach teeth if we preserve them in this way. However, we may recommend a dental implant treatment if our dentists cannot reattach the tooth. Dental implants are titanium posts that replace missing teeth at the root. Implants look and function just like natural teeth.
Dental Injuries.
A chip or crack in the tooth enamel may seem like a cosmetic problem. However, it can impact the comfort of your bite and even leave you prone to infection. Some dental injuries expose the inside of the tooth to bacteria. Infected teeth may require root canal treatment. Call us if you have just injured a tooth, and we can help find the correct restoration for you.
If you have just injured a tooth, hold a piece of gauze on the injury for about 10 minutes if there’s bleeding. Apply a cold compress to your cheek near the broken tooth if you notice any swelling. Only eat soft foods while waiting for your appointment, and avoid chewing with the damaged tooth at all costs.
Excessive Bleeding.
Please get in touch with our office if you have a dental injury that is causing excessive bleeding. You can also contact us if you have just recovered from a dental procedure but are experiencing continuous bleeding.
It is abnormal for our patients to experience bleeding for several days following their procedure. Our team can help stop the bleeding and find the source of the problem.
Broken Dental Restorations.
Please call our office if you have just broken or lost a dental bridge, tooth crown, filling, dental implant, or denture. Your mouth is likely sensitive now, so avoid chewing with it. Do not eat hot foods or drink hot beverages.
We can provide you with a temporary prosthetic while we help plan your new dental restoration. Contacting our office promptly after an injury or break to a dental restoration can prevent discomfort and pain.
How to Prevent Dental Emergencies
There are several things you can do in your everyday life to prevent a dental emergency:
- Maintain a good oral hygiene routine to prevent oral infections. Brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush at least twice daily, and floss at least once.
- If you play sports, always wear a mouthguard. This applies to both contact and non-contact sports.
- Don’t bite down on anything too hard. This includes ice, hard candy, pen tips, and fingernails. On a related note, don’t use your teeth to open objects. You can chip or crack a tooth.
- Visit our dental office for regular checkups and cleanings so Dr. Courter can catch potential oral health issues early.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is facial swelling always a dental emergency?
Facial swelling can be a sign of a serious dental infection and should not be ignored. If it’s accompanied by pain, fever, or difficulty swallowing or breathing, seek immediate dental or medical care. Swelling near the jaw or eye area may indicate a spreading infection. Even if symptoms seem mild, it’s safest to have it evaluated quickly.
Can I eat or drink before an emergency dental visit?
Yes, in most cases, you can eat or drink before an emergency visit unless the office instructs otherwise. If sedation or certain procedures are planned, your dentist might advise you to avoid food or drink for a few hours beforehand. When in doubt, call ahead and ask. Bring a list of medications and any recent dental symptoms to help your dentist assess you promptly.
Can a knocked-out baby tooth be reimplanted?
No, baby teeth should not be reimplanted. Trying to put a baby tooth back can damage the developing permanent tooth beneath it. If a baby tooth is knocked out, contact your child’s dentist right away for an evaluation. They’ll check for injury to the surrounding area and determine if any follow-up care is needed.
Can a loose tooth in an adult be saved?
Yes, sometimes a loose adult tooth can be saved if treated quickly. Causes like trauma, gum disease, or infection need to be addressed right away to improve the chances of saving the tooth. We may stabilize it with a splint or recommend other treatments depending on the cause. Delaying care could lead to permanent tooth loss.
What are the signs of a dental abscess I shouldn’t ignore?
Key signs include severe toothache, swelling in the face or gums, pus drainage, a bad taste in the mouth, and fever. You may also notice swollen lymph nodes or difficulty opening your mouth. These are signs of a serious infection, and immediate care is needed to prevent the infection from spreading.
How do I know if a tooth infection has become an emergency?
If you have intense pain, swelling, fever, or difficulty swallowing or breathing, it’s an emergency. These symptoms mean the infection may be spreading beyond the tooth. Don’t wait. Call your dentist or go to urgent care. Even if the pain subsides, untreated infections can become life-threatening if ignored.
Contact Our Midland Dental Office Today
Please call Dr. Courter’s Permian Basin dental office at 432-287-9531. Even if you do not have a dental emergency, you can contact our office or request a dental consultation with Dr. Courter online.
We also welcome questions from our patients. Let us know if you have questions or concerns about emergency dentistry in our Midland, TX office. We will gladly assist you.