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Emergency Dental Care Specialist

Gentle Touch Dental PC

General Dentistry & Cosmetic Dentistry located in Falls Church, VA

When you have a dental emergency, a matter of an hour can make all the difference between a tooth that can be saved and one that can’t. Francisco Rodriguez, DMD, and the staff at Gentle Touch Dental PC leave room in their schedule for emergency dental care. If you have a dental emergency, contact the Falls Church, Virginia, practice by phone for instructions. Non-emergency appointments can be booked online.

Emergency Dental Care Q & A

How do I know if I need emergency dental care?

You can’t plan for dental emergencies, so you’re not likely to have an appointment when one happens to you. That’s why it’s so important to have a provider who can accommodate dental emergencies outside of their normally scheduled appointments. 

You should be able to determine if you need emergency dental care by asking yourself this question — can your dental issue wait until the next available appointment? If not, then you should probably go in. If yes, then you may be able to hold off.

What situations qualify as dental emergencies?

The level of discomfort you experience and the importance of immediate care should give you an idea of whether or not it’s time to go in. You can always call Gentle Touch PC for recommendations.

Some scenarios that qualify as dental emergencies include: 

  • Abscessed tooth
  • Loose or knocked out tooth
  • Pain or injury to the mouth
  • Cracked or broken tooth or dental work
  • Object stuck in the mouth

If you have uncontrolled bleeding or experience trauma to the head from an accident or injury, you should seek immediate medical attention first and worry about dental care later. 

How can I preserve my teeth in a dental emergency?

Time is of the essence in some dental emergencies. For example, you have a much better chance of saving a knocked-out tooth if you see a dentist within an hour of the tooth falling out.

The first step is to get to the dentist as soon as possible. You can also take a few precautionary measures to improve the outcomes of dental emergencies:

Knocked-out tooth

Keep the tooth moist by holding it inside your tooth socket or cheek or placing it in a glass of milk. Get it to the dentist as soon as possible.

Cracked or broken tooth

Keep the area clean with a warm water rinse. Hold a cold compress over the area for pain and swelling. If a piece of dental work falls off, bring it with you to the dentist.

Toothache

If you have a toothache or abscessed tooth, see your dentist as soon as possible. Do not try to “pop” the abscess or place medication like aspirin on the gums.

Call Gentle Touch PC right away for an emergency appointment. All non-emergency appointments can be booked through the website.