Nobody wants to chip a tooth, but it happens. Maybe you bit down on a piece of ice, you got hit in the face while playing a contact sport, or you just slipped or had another accident and chipped your tooth.
Whatever the cause of your chipped tooth may be, there are a few steps that the team at Dodds Dental recommends that you take to protect and restore your smile. Read on, and learn what you should do after you chip a tooth in Long Beach.
1. Rinse Your Mouth Out Right Away
First, you should rinse your mouth to remove any food debris, dirt, blood, or anything else that may contaminate your chipped tooth. You can use warm water to clean the area. Don’t use soap, mouthwash, or anything else, just water.
2. Recover Your Tooth Fragments, If Possible
If fragments have broken off of your tooth, recover them and put them in a plastic baggie of cold milk. Dr. Dustin or Dr. Emily may be able to bond them back to your tooth, which will simplify the treatment process.
However, don’t worry too much about this. If you can’t find the fragments, there are lots of other ways we can repair your tooth at Dodds Dental.
3. Call Dodds Dental For An Emergency Appointment
Next, call Dodds Dental at (562) 439-0754. We always have room in our schedule for same-day emergency appointments, and even a minor chip counts as a dental emergency. Chips weaken your tooth and can even contribute to decay or tooth infections, and need to be repaired right away.
So call us right away. We’ll see you ASAP for a same-day emergency appointment, and Dr. Dustin or Dr. Emily will be able to restore your tooth, eliminate your pain, and prevent further complications.
4. Control Bleeding & Treat Your Pain
Once you’ve scheduled an appointment, you can take steps to minimize pain, swelling, and bleeding before your appointment. If you’re bleeding, use clean gauze or cotton balls to absorb blood. Apply steady pressure to the site, and bleeding should slow within a few minutes.
You can also take over-the-counter pain relievers like naproxen (Advil) or ibuprofen (Motrin) to help with your discomfort. Putting a cold pack on the cheek near your chipped tooth will numb the area and help with discomfort, too.
If you have any on-hand, you can use temporary dental cement or wax to cover up the chipped tooth. This can be found at any drugstore. However, if you don’t already have some, it’s not worth picking it up right away. It’s better to just come to our office for permanent treatment.
5. Visit Dodds Dental For Same-Day Treatment
Next, come to our office as soon as you can. Dr. Emily and Dr. Dustin are here to help, and will provide the permanent treatment you need to restore your chipped tooth and prevent future complications.
Got A Chipped Tooth In Long Beach? Contact Us For Emergency Care Right Now!
Chipped teeth are a big deal, and failing to treat a chip could lead to further oral health complications. So don’t wait. At Dodds Dental, we offer convenient, expert emergency dentistry in Long Beach. Contact us at (562) 439-0754 to speak to one of our team members and schedule your emergency appointment right away.
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