Emergency Care

Being faced with a dental emergency can be a frightening situation, particularly if you do not know how to handle it. You might even rush off to the emergency room. Many dental emergencies do not require hospital care though. There are even some dental emergencies that you can handle on your own from the comfort of your own home. At Raptou Family Dental, we can help you to determine what steps you need to take in the event of a dental emergency to ensure that your injuries are treated properly.

Taking Care of Emergencies at Home

There are some dental emergencies that, while scary or painful, do not require any professional treatment at all. One of these emergencies is a bitten lip, cheek, or tongue. These injuries can be painful, but they are rarely dangerous. To help stop bleeding, use a piece of moistened gauze over the wound and apply gentle pressure. OTC pain relievers and ice packs can help with pain and swelling. These wounds typically heal on their own in just a few days.

Sometimes, a toothache can be treated at home. Toothaches often indicate an infection, but they can also indicate that you have something stuck between your teeth. First, gently brush and floss your teeth, and rinse with a salt water solution. Take a look inside your mouth, or have someone else do it for you, to check for signs of redness and swelling. If you notice signs of an infection or suspect that you might have one, call the office right away.

Treating Emergencies in the Office

We can provide emergency care for many different types of dental emergencies. Call our office right away to schedule your emergency appointment. We will do our best to get you in as soon as possible. Emergencies we can treat include:

•	Toothaches. A toothache often indicates an infection. Infections can usually be treated with a root canal.
•	Chipped or broken teeth. Even minor damage should be examined right away. We can assess the extent of the damage and determine the best course of action.
•	Displaced teeth. A displaced tooth is one that has been partially knocked out. We can reseat the tooth and secure it while the periodontal ligament and bone heal around it. Do not attempt to fix these teeth yourself.
•	Tooth intrusion. This is a tooth that has been pushed deeper into the bone. Intrusion is more common in children and teens, as the bone is still developing and more malleable. Like displaced teeth, we can reseat these teeth and secure them while the supporting structures heal.
•	Tooth avulsion. A tooth that has been completely knocked out can often be replanted. First, find the tooth and rinse it under cool water. Handle the tooth only by the crown. Do not touch the root. Store the tooth in milk or a salt water solution. If the tooth cannot be replanted, we can provide a replacement.

What Emergencies Require Care at the Emergency Room?

Even though we can treat many emergencies in our office, there are some times when you should head straight to the emergency room. These instances include

•	You think you may have broken your jaw.
•	Excessive bleeding. If you have been bleeding for more than 15 minutes and it has not slowed or stopped, you should also go straight to the ER.
•	Extreme pain that cannot be managed.
•	Excessive swelling.

While dental emergencies can be scary, knowing what to do can help to make them more manageable. If you are faced with a dental emergency, contact Raptou Family Dental at (614) 427-0449 right away.

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136 Northwoods Blvd Suite A1
Columbus, OH 43235