In the event of a dental emergency, get in touch with us right away the second you think you might 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 we provide to our Permian Basin patients.
When you have a damaged tooth or severe oral pain, it’s important to call your dentist quickly to give yourself the best chance of keeping your smile intact. Receiving immediate dental care after you notice a problem is key to your recovery as well.
Dr. Courter will make every effort to see you as soon as possible so that he can provide the expert care you need 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 that you should take to minimize any pain or dysfunction that you are experiencing. Dr. Courter and his team are here for you.
Do I Have a Dental Emergency?
Sometimes, it can be difficult to tell if your dental issue is an immediate concern. An emergency is something that 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. A small cosmetic chip or crack with no pain is something that can wait for a normal appointment. But if you experience pain or excessive bleeding, make sure you call our office immediately.
How to Address Common Dental Emergencies
A dental emergency might mean that your tooth has some kind of physical trauma after a blow to the face. But it could also be the result of 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, as it 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 serious problem. Contact our office so that we can 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 top part that’s 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 you preserve them in this way. However, if our dentists cannot reattach the tooth, we may recommend a dental implant treatment. 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, but 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, which may require root canal treatment. Call us if you have just injured a tooth and we can help find the right restoration for you.
If there’s bleeding, hold a piece of gauze on the injury for about 10 minutes. Apply a cold compress to your cheek near the broken tooth if you notice any swelling. Only eat soft foods while you’re waiting for your appointment, and avoid chewing with the damaged tooth at all costs.
Excessive Bleeding.
Please contact 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 or eating anything that’s particularly hot.
We can provide you with a temporary prosthetic while we help plan your new dental prosthetic. Contacting our office promptly after an injury or break to a dental restoration can prevent discomfort and pain.
How to Prevent Dental Emergencies
- Maintain a good oral hygiene routine to prevent oral infections. Brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush at least twice a day, 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 packages.
- Visit our dental office for regular checkups and cleanings so that Dr. Courter can catch potential oral health issues early.
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 and we will be glad to assist you.