Dental Emergencies

We Are Always On Call!

Dental emergencies seem to happen at the worst of times – late at night, over a holiday weekend, or when you have a big event coming up. At Central Valley OMS, we never want you to suffer from dental pain unnecessarily or have to “tough it out” because your dentist’s office is closed. If you have a dental emergency, you can call our office number Visalia Office Phone Number (559) 732-7946 any time and be directed to the doctor on call for helpful advice and, if needed, an emergency appointment.

Types of Dental Emergencies

Toothaches

The most common dental emergency is a severe toothache. If you have a painful toothache, the longer you wait, the more difficult treatment is likely to be. Rinsing your mouth with warm saltwater can help, as can a cold compress on your cheek to minimize swelling. An over-the-counter pain reliever can provide some relief until you are seen by one of our doctors on call.

Broken, Chipped, or Cracked Tooth

If your tooth is broken or chipped, treat it like a toothache. Rinse with warm salt water and use a cold compress if there is any swelling. If part of the tooth is broken off, try to collect any fragments. Rinse them in warm water and keep them moist in water or milk, bringing them to your appointment.

Knocked Out Tooth

Find and save the missing tooth if possible. Pick it up by the crown and avoid touching the roots. Rinse with warm water, but do not scrub or try to clean off any gum tissue. If you can, put the tooth back into its socket and cover it with a clean cloth or gauze, biting down lightly to hold the tooth in place until you can be seen by a dentist or oral surgeon. If you cannot get the tooth into the socket, save it in water or milk and bring it to your appointment.

Dry Socket

A protective blood clot forms over the empty socket after surgical tooth extraction, particularly wisdom teeth removal. If the blood clot is dislodged too soon, the bone and nerves are exposed, causing intense, throbbing pain. It may be a dry socket if you experience throbbing pain 3-5 days after surgical tooth extraction. It will need immediate attention.

Abscess

An abscess is a gum infection around the base of a tooth. It can be quite painful and usually looks like a blister or bubble along the gum. If you have a bubble, pain, or swelling in the gums, contact our office as soon as possible. An abscess can spread infection to other areas of the body through the bloodstream.

Excessive Bleeding

If your gums, lips, or mouth are bleeding due to a blow or cut, put pressure on the area with a clean cloth or gauze. If the bleeding is excessive or the wound is deep, you should go to the nearest emergency room. They will need to get the bleeding under control before the cause of the bleeding is addressed. If any facial bones are visible, go to the emergency room or call 911.

Please contact our office if you are unsure whether your situation is a dental emergency. We would rather you call our office for a “false alarm” than not call and lose a tooth or suffer pain needlessly. No matter what time of day or night, someone will be available to help you.