Toothaches  

Is My Toothache a Dental Emergency? If you’ve been experiencing abnormal dental symptoms for over 24 hours – from pain with biting down to persistent sensitivity – you shouldn’t hesitate to contact our Encinitas dental team. Once we know a bit more about your situation, including how much discomfort you’re experiencing, we can determine if a same-day visit to our office is warranted.

How You Should Handle a Toothache Whether you have a few hours or a few days until your appointment with us, there are a few things we recommend doing, including rinsing periodically with warm saltwater, avoiding crunchy foods, and not chewing on that side of your mouth.

How We Treat Toothaches Toothaches are often the result of decay, which can sometimes be treated with a filling. Other times, the root of the problem is an infection, requiring a root canal and dental crown. The good news is that we utilize CEREC technology, so we can often complete the entire treatment process in a single visit!

Chipped Teeth  

Is a Chipped Tooth a Dental Emergency? There are some cases where a chipped tooth is a dental emergency. If you’re in pain, for example, then you should call us ASAP to schedule an emergency exam. Otherwise, you should be safe to come to our office before the end of the week. If you’re not quite sure what to do, give us a call – we can help.

How You Should Handle a Chipped Tooth To prevent the tooth from breaking further or the soft tissue in your mouth from getting cut, we recommend covering the sharp edge with some sugar-free gum. We also recommend sticking to extremely soft foods, like plain yogurt, as well as room-temperature water.

How We Treat Chipped Teeth Direct bonding is one way we can rebuild the missing structure. Of course, if the chip is more substantial, then a veneer may be needed instead.

LEARN MORE ABOUT VENEERS

Cracked Tooth  

Is a Cracked Tooth a Dental Emergency? Absolutely. Remember, if you don’t act quickly, there’s a chance that the crack will get larger or an infection will develop. So, don’t wait – reach out to us right away to schedule an emergency appointment with Dr. Greg McElroy, Dr. Austin Haught, or Dr. Tyler McElroy.

How You Should Handle a Cracked Tooth The first step is scheduling an appointment with us so we can restore your tooth ASAP. Outside of that, stick to room-temperature water, don’t chew on that side of your mouth, avoid touching the tooth with your finger, and take OTC pain medication as directed (if needed).

How We Treat Cracked Teeth If there is a crack in your enamel, but your tooth can be saved, then we will likely recommend a dental crown. If there is a crack in your enamel and your tooth cannot be saved, then we will carefully extract it before replacing it with the tooth-replacement solution of your choice, like a dental implant.

Very Sensitive Teeth  

Are Very Sensitive Teeth a Dental Emergency? That depends largely on whether the sensation is new or not. If it is, then you shouldn’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with us so we can see if an untreated oral health issue is to blame. If, on the other hand, you’ve always struggled with dental sensitivity, then you likely have nothing to worry about.

How You Should Handle Very Sensitive Teeth There are a few things you can do to alleviate your discomfort in the short-term, like avoiding hot beverages and switching to a desensitizing toothpaste. Outside of that, focus on getting to our office so we can provide the necessary restorative care and alleviate your discomfort in the long-term.

How We Treat Very Sensitive Teeth That depends! Sometimes, a tooth-colored filling is needed to address a cavity. Other times, root canal treatment is needed to eliminate an infection, or gum disease treatment is necessary to restore your healthy, pain-free smile.

Knocked-Out Tooth  

Is My Knocked-Out Tooth a Dental Emergency? Yes, because there is only a small window of time where saving your tooth is possible. So, every minute counts! We recommend contacting our Encinitas dental team ASAP so we can set aside time for you to come in for the necessary care. We’ll also share what to do (and what not to do) until you arrive.

How You Should Handle a Knocked-Out Tooth Protecting your tooth from further harm is a top priority. So, if you can, put it back in its socket. If it doesn’t slide back into place easily, then do the next best thing: place it in a clean container filled with milk. This will help preserve the root, increasing the chances we can save it.

How We Treat Knocked-Out Teeth Ideally, we’ll be able to save your tooth. If that’s not an option because it was lost in the incident or badly damaged, then we will replace it with a dental implant instead. Don’t worry – it will look and feel just like the real thing.

LEARN MORE ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Lost Filling or Crown  

Is a Lost Filling or Crown a Dental Emergency? Yes. After all, without your restoration securely in place, your tooth is vulnerable to serious damage. So, even if you aren’t in pain, don’t wait – schedule an appointment with our Encinitas emergency dentist.

How You Should Handle a Lost Filling or Crown Call us to schedule an appointment, store your restoration somewhere safe (like a small, clean container), avoid chewing on that side of your mouth, and steer clear of all hot and cold stimuli.

How We Treat Lost Fillings or Crowns Oftentimes, the best way forward is to replace the filling or crown. The good news is that we offer CEREC same-day crowns at our office, so you don’t have to worry about temporary restorations or multiple visits – your tooth will be restored right away!

LEARN MORE ABOUT CEREC SAME-DAY CROWNS

Broken Denture

Is a broken denture a dental emergency?

While it may not seem like an emergency, wearing damaged dentures can easily injure your gums, soft tissues, jaws, and your remaining teeth. No matter where the damage has occurred on the denture (base or crowns), call McElroy Smiles by Design of Encinitas as soon as possible.

How to handle a broken denture:

If your denture breaks, take it out of your mouth and do not wear it until your dentist approves you to do so, as you could injure your gums, cheeks, or tongue. You can also cause further damage to the denture itself or make the present damage worse. Never attempt to repair your dentures yourself with superglue or any other adhesives, as they are not biocompatible and can make you sick

How we treat broken dentures:

How we treat your broken denture will depend on the severity of damage. In some cases, we may be able to repair it with composite resin if there is a small chip or crack, however in other cases it may need to be readjusted to ensure a proper fit.

For more severe damage, you may require a brand-new denture. This may also be a great time to discuss switching to implant dentures or dental implants.

Treatment will depend on the severity of damage. Sometimes, we can use composite resin to fill in a small chip or crack. In other cases, the denture may need to be readjusted to fit properly. However, we may need to fit you for a brand-new denture if yours can’t be fixed. This may be a good opportunity for you to consider switching to implant dentures.)

Loose Permanent Tooth

Is a loose tooth a dental emergency?

Sometimes referred to as an extruded or partially dislodge tooth, teeth can become loose gradually or over time as the result of an accidental injury. Even if your loose tooth does not hurt, it is in danger of falling out, and thus is considered a dental emergency.

How you should handle a loose permanent tooth:

If you notice your tooth is loose, do not do anything that could cause it to become looser, such as chewing with it, brushing it, or wiggling it with your fingers or tongue.

How we treat loose permanent teeth:

It is possible to save a loose tooth by splinting it back into place; however, it is possible that it may still need to be extracted later. In this case, you might be eligible for a dental implant or another form of tooth replacement like a bridge.

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue

Is an injury to the gums, lips, or tongue a dental emergency?

Injuries to the gums, lips, or tongue can be common if you play sports. Though they may bleed a lot and can be very alarming, your dentist may be able to assist you with this type of dental emergency.

How you should handle an injury to the gums, lips, or tongue:

If you injure your gums, lips, or tongue, first clean the area gently with water to wash away any debris and bacteria. Then, apply pressure to the area with a clean washcloth or gauze until the bleeding stops. You can also apply an icepack or cold compress to help decrease swelling and reduce pain.

How we treat injuries to the gums, lips, or tongue:

Depending on the severity of the injury, your dentist can stitch the wound closed if needed. However, should the bleeding persist after 10 minutes, it is best to head directly to your local emergency room for immediate attention.

Jaw Pain

Is jaw pain a dental emergency?

While jaw pain may not seem urgent, it can easily interfere with your daily life and can eventually lead to serious oral health issues if not treated.

How you should handle jaw pain:

If you are experiencing jaw pain, give us a call and we can provide you with further instructions on the phone. You can also take an over-the-counter pain reliever and apply an icepack to ease any swelling or discomfort. In the chance that your jaw is broken or dislocated, go directly to your local emergency room first, and we can treat any further injury after you are released.

How we treat jaw pain:

If it is determined that your jaw pain is a result of bruxism (teeth grinding), you may be prescribed a a custom-made mouthguard.

You may also need an intervention such as TMJ therapy to help prevent serious issues later in life.

If your pain is caused by emerging or impacted wisdom teeth, we can assist with extraction.

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

If you have food or other debris stuck between the teeth, be very careful when trying to remove it. Never use tweezers, toothpicks, or anything else sharp to attempt to dislodge it, as you could injure your soft tissues accidentally.

Instead, try flossing and rinsing your mouth with water. If you are still unable to free the debris, contact us for an appointment and we can assist you in person.