If you are currently experiencing a dental emergency, please contact our office as soon as possible to ensure you will be seen and cared for promptly. When something goes wrong with your smile, you need someone to call to restore your dental health and your peace of mind. At TotallySmiles, we are here to help you when you need us the most. Our office prioritizes patients who need emergency dentistry care in Gaithersburg, MD.
We will help you get same-day emergency dental care. In addition to trauma, a dental emergency is considered to be any sudden, unexplained pain or discomfort in your teeth, gums, or jawbone. Our doctors will locate the cause of your dental emergency and treat it at the source. Learn more about our emergency dentistry services below.
Emergency Dentistry in Gaithersburg, MD
Dr. Steven Anolik and Dr. Corey Anolik are experienced general dentists in Gaithersburg, MD. They are here to provide you with exceptional dental care when you need it the most. At TotallySmiles, our doctors prioritize patients experiencing a dental emergency, and will ensure that you are seen promptly to prevent further pain or discomfort.
Whether you experience sudden tooth loss, unexplained toothaches, or a dislodged dental crown, we can help you restore your dental health and your peace of mind. If you are unsure if you are experiencing a dental emergency or not, we encourage you to contact our office to discuss your concerns with our dental professionals. Remember – better safe than sorry!
Common Emergency Dental Problems
Dental emergencies can happen when you least expect them. Acting quickly can help save your teeth and reduce pain. Here’s what to do in these common dental emergencies:
Broken Tooth
If you break a tooth, rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area. Use a cold compress on your face to reduce swelling. If you can find the broken piece of the tooth, bring it with you to our office in a cup of saliva. Call us right away to schedule an emergency visit.
Based on the extent of your tooth damage, we may recommend tooth bonding or crowns. Bonding is best for smaller chips, while crowns can cover larger areas of damage.
Knocked-Out Tooth
If a tooth is knocked out, carefully pick it up by the crown (the white part) without touching the root. Then, gently rinse it with water, but don’t scrub it. You can try to place the tooth back in its socket and gently bite down. If this does not work, put the tooth in a glass of saliva or keep it in your cheek to keep it moist. See our dentist immediately—acting within an hour gives you the best chance of saving the tooth.
We recommend a dental implant if we cannot reattach the tooth. Implants are titanium posts that replace teeth at the root. Replacing your lost tooth will prevent jaw bone loss, speech problems, and more.
Bleeding Gums
If your gums are bleeding, rinse your mouth with warm salt water. Apply gentle pressure with a clean cloth or gauze to stop the bleeding. If the bleeding doesn’t stop after a few minutes or if it happens often, contact our dentist. It could be a sign of gum disease or another problem that needs treatment.
In many cases, your gums bleeding when you brush and floss are not an emergency. However, they are a sign of gum inflammation. If you continue to bleed after a dental surgery, that’s a problem that needs immediate care.
Broken or Lost Restoration
Dental restorations like fillings, crowns, or bridges can sometimes break or come loose. When this happens, it can leave your tooth exposed and cause discomfort or sensitivity.
If you find the broken piece, keep it and bring it to your dentist. Sometimes it can be repaired or reused. If the tooth is sharp or sensitive, cover it with dental wax or sugar-free gum until you can see our dentist.
Stick to soft foods and avoid chewing on the side of your mouth with the damaged tooth. Contact our dentist as soon as possible. We will assess the damage and recommend the best way to fix it, whether we need to replace the restoration or create a new one.
Toothaches
If you have a toothache, start by rinsing your mouth with warm salt water. This can help clean the area and reduce swelling. Mix half a teaspoon of salt into a cup of warm water and swish it around your mouth.
Food stuck between your teeth can sometimes cause pain. Use floss to gently remove anything that might be trapped. Be careful not to hurt your gums. You can also take over-the-counter pain medication. Then, contact our office.
A toothache may be intense, sharp pain surrounding one or more of your dental structures. It may also be consistent, throbbing pain in a general area of your mouth. Our doctors will evaluate your toothache to treat the underlying cause, which may include:
- Abscessed tooth
- Tooth fracture
- Damaged fillings
- TMJ disorders
- Teeth grinding
- Gum disease
By treating the underlying cause of your toothache, we will relieve your pain and discomfort immediately and prevent future toothaches.
When Do I Need to Visit the Hospital?
In most cases, our dentist can provide emergency dentistry treatment in our Gaithersburg, MD, dental office. Sometimes, you might need to go to the hospital. Here are some situations where you should go to the hospital right away:
- If your face or mouth is swelling up quickly, it’s hard to breathe or swallow.
- You have painful bleeding that won’t stop.
- Your jaw is broken or severely injured.
- You have a fever along with severe tooth pain or swelling.
Need Emergency Dental Care?
The sooner you address a dental emergency, the better. Dental pain will often only get worse over time. Minor dental issues can develop into major dental concerns if you do not see a dentist promptly. Contact our office directly for emergency dentistry services in Gaithersburg, MD, at 301-701-5861. Schedule an appointment online if you have a dental problem but do not need emergency care.