If you live in or around Silver Spring, MD, and have a dental emergency, call the emergency dentist in Silver Spring, MD, Dr. Cummins. At Cummins Dental Group, Dr. Cummins and his team of experts are trained in treating and repairing dental emergencies. Our top goal in a dental emergency is to save and restore your natural tooth and its structures.
What Are Common Dental Emergencies?
Patients can experience a dental emergency for several reasons. The three most common dental emergencies are a broken tooth, a knocked-out tooth, or a toothache. Patients that have a dental emergency need to visit a dentist right away.
Broken Tooth. Patients can experience a broken tooth if they are in an accident, such as during a fall or a car accident. Sometimes patients with gum disease or gum decay experience a cracked tooth from eating. Patients can even break their teeth on soft foods such as bread if there is pre-existing dental decay.
If you break your tooth in or around Silver Spring, MD, save the damaged portion of the tooth and call Cummins Dental Group right away. We will schedule an emergency dental appointment for you and attempt to reattach your broken tooth.
Knocked-out Tooth. Most patients with knocked-out teeth experience trauma such as a fall or a sports accident. If your tooth is knocked out, the first thing you should do is stop the bleeding if there is excessive bleeding. Then, try to find the tooth. If you can find it, place it back into the socket. Do not wipe or rinse off the tooth before placing it in your mouth because this could damage essential structures on the tooth. If the tooth does not fit in the socket, put it in a milk bag. Then, call Cummins Dental Group right away for an emergency dental appointment. Dr. Cummins, an emergency dentist in Silver Spring, MD, will work hard to reattach your tooth.
Toothache. Toothaches are common. However, you should call Cummins Dental Group if you have a prolonged or severe toothache. When you first experience a toothache, gently floss around the tooth. Sometimes debris and food can get stuck between your teeth, causing a toothache. If this does not help, take an over-the-counter pain medicine such as Tylenol or ibuprofen (Motrin, Alieve, etc.). Do not place an aspirin on the side of your mouth next to the tooth. This is a myth that can cause severe damage.
Call Cummins Dental Group for an emergency dental appointment if the toothache does not improve. Sometimes severe toothaches can be caused by infections that, if not treated, can spread to other teeth and gums and can even cause systemic diseases such as sepsis and heart disease.
Restoration Options
In a dental emergency, Dr. Cummins’s first goal is to save the natural tooth and its structures. However, your dentist cannot save the natural tooth in some cases. If this is the case, Dr. Cummins will recommend a treatment plan to restore the health and function of your teeth.
Dental Crowns. One restoration option is a dental crown. Sometimes patients refer to these as caps because they fit over the natural tooth. A dental crown can restore broken teeth or infected teeth. If a significant amount of the tooth is removed from a break or dental decay, Dr. Cummins can cover the tooth with a porcelain dental crown.
Dental Implants. If a tooth is knocked out or has a severe infection and the tooth is removed, Dr. Cummins can restore the tooth with a dental implant. An implant restores the entire tooth from the tooth’s root to its crown.
A dental emergency can be scary, but Dr. Cummins and Cummins Dental Group are here to help guide you through the process. Call our office for more information about Dr. Cummins, an emergency dentist in Silver Spring, MD, or to schedule an appointment.
