Emergency Dentistry – Lexington, MA

×

Toothaches

Is my toothache a dental emergency?

Toothaches range considerably in severity, but your dental pain may be an emergency if:

• The discomfort is severe or lasts longer than one day.
• You experience sharp dental pain when you bite down.
• Your tooth is extremely sensitive.
• You have a small bump on the gum tissue supporting the pained tooth.
• The afflicted tooth is darker than the other teeth.
• You notice signs of oral infection like fever, swelling, or fatigue.

How you should handle a toothache:

Begin by thoroughly brushing and flossing in case the problem is caused by debris between the teeth. If that doesn’t fix the issue, take an over-the-counter pain medication and rinse your mouth with a salt water solution. You can also use an ice pack or cold compress to reduce your discomfort.

How we treat toothaches:

The best way to address a toothache depends on its cause. If the problem is severe tooth decay, we may be able to eliminate the infection with a painless root canal treatment. If the issue is advanced gum disease, we may recommend periodontal therapy to restore the health of your soft tissues.

Learn More About Root Canal Therapy Learn More About Gum Disease Treatment

×

Chipped Tooth

Is a chipped tooth a dental emergency?  

A mildly chipped tooth can usually wait a few days before being treated, but it’s best to have the emergency dentist at Lexington Smile Studio evaluate and address the damage soon. Forgoing to repair chipped teeth can leave them vulnerable to infections and further injury.

How you should handle a chipped tooth:

If you can find any pieces of your tooth, secure them in a clean container and bring them with you to our office. Then, rinse your mouth with a solution of salt and water to remove bacteria and any lingering debris. If needed, cover any sharp or pointy edges of your tooth with dental wax or sugar-free gum to protect your soft tissues. It’s also best to avoid using the damaged tooth when eating.

How we treat chipped teeth:

We may be able to repair the chip in your tooth using lifelike dental veneers or crowns that can protect your smile from damage and infection. With excellent care, these restorative devices can last for up to fifteen years before being replaced.

Learn More About Dental Veneers Learn More About Dental Crowns

×

Cracked Tooth

Is a cracked tooth a dental emergency?

Even a tiny crack in the enamel can increase a tooth’s risk of infection and further injury, so it’s best to have us treat your damaged tooth as soon as possible. Since dental cracks are not always visible, call us if you experience pain or sensitivity after receiving a blow to the face.

How you should handle a cracked tooth:

Begin by rinsing your mouth with a solution of salt and water to clear away bacteria and debris. You can also apply a cold compress or use over-the-counter pain relievers to reduce any discomfort. It’s best to avoid chewing with the injured tooth, and you can apply dental wax or a bit of sugar-free gum to address sensitivity.

How we treat cracked teeth:

We often treat cracked teeth by applying customized dental crowns to restore their appearance, structure, and function. These devices can last for up to fifteen years before needing replacement if they receive excellent care.

Learn More About Dental Crowns

×

Very Sensitive Teeth

Are very sensitive teeth a dental emergency?

Dental sensitivity can be quite uncomfortable, but it probably isn’t a dental emergency if it is mild or goes away on its own. However, contact our office in Lexington if the problem becomes severe, causes pain, lasts for several days, or affects only one or two teeth, as these may be signs of injuries or infections.

How you should handle sensitive teeth:

Begin by calling our office to receive first-aid tips and schedule a visit. To stay comfortable until then, drink lukewarm water and avoid foods that are sweet, spicy, or acidic. If necessary, take over-the-counter pain relievers.

How we treat tooth sensitivity:

The best way to address excessive dental sensitivity depends on what causes it. If the issue is caused by tooth decay, we may be able to resolve the problem with dental fillings or root canal treatment. If the sensitivity is the result of gum disease, we can address it with periodontal therapy.

Learn More About Dental Fillings Learn More About Gum Disease Therapy Learn More About Root Canal Therapy

×

Knocked-Out Tooth

Is a knocked-out tooth a dental emergency?

A tooth that has been knocked out of the gum tissue is at severe risk of being permanently lost, and its chances of being reimplanted will begin to fall after about thirty minutes. Contact our office in Lexington as soon as possible after your tooth is dislodged to schedule an emergency appointment.

How you should handle a knocked-out tooth:

Begin by locating the tooth and securing it by handling it only by the crown portion. If needed, gently rinse it by swishing it about in lukewarm water without any cleaning chemicals. Store the tooth in a clean vessel with saliva or milk to keep it nourished and contact our office to let us know you are coming. If you have an ADA-approved tooth preservation kit, you can use it to keep the tooth in viable condition for up to twenty-four hours.

How we treat knocked-out teeth:

If the tooth is still sufficiently healthy when it gets to us, we may be able to reimplant it and encourage the gum and jawbones to reintegrate with it. However, a tooth that cannot be saved will have to be replaced.

Learn More About Prosthodontics Learn More About Dental Implants

×

Lost Filling or Crown

Is a lost filling or crown a dental emergency?

Dental restorations like fillings and crowns are crafted to be strong and durable, but they don’t last forever. An old crown or filling can come loose or fall off the tooth completely, and, while this is not necessarily an urgent issue, you should still visit us soon to reduce your risk of new injuries and infections.

How you should handle a lost filling or crown:

If you can, locate the restoration and store it in a clean container for transport to our Lexington office. You can attempt to temporarily fix a crown back in place with dental cement or a bit of sugar-free gum, but please do not try to do the same with a filling.

How we treat lost fillings or crowns:

If the restoration is still viable, we may be able to cement it back in place. However, a crown or filling that cannot be salvaged will have to be replaced.

Learn More About Dental Fillings Learn More About Dental Crowns

×

Broken Denture

Is a broken denture a dental emergency?

Continuing to wear a damaged denture can lead to injuries of your gums, jaws, soft tissues, and remaining teeth. Contact our office in Lexington if the base or artificial teeth of your appliance is cracked, fractured, or otherwise damaged.

How to handle a broken denture:

Refrain from wearing the broken denture to prevent oral injuries, and never attempt to fix your dentures on your own since you may damage them further or expose your mouth to harmful chemicals like superglue. Instead, contact our office to schedule an appointment and receive further instructions.

How we treat broken dentures:

The best way to address broken dentures depends on the severity of the damage. We can often repair small chips and cracks in the artificial teeth with composite resin and readjust the bases of dentures so they can fit properly. A denture that is too badly damaged will require replacement, and this may be an excellent opportunity to consider upgrading to dental implants.

Learn More About Prosthodontics Learn More About Dental Implants

×

Loose Permanent Tooth

Are loose permanent teeth a dental emergency?

Loose permanent teeth, also called extruded or partially dislodged teeth, are at great risk of being knocked out and permanently lost. Contact our office as soon as you realize that your tooth is not securely rooted in your mouth.

How you should handle a loose permanent tooth:

Immediately contact our office to schedule an emergency appointment. Until then, refrain from touching your tooth and eating tough, hard, or sticky foods. While you can clean your mouth by rinsing with warm water, do not brush or floss the loose tooth until your appointment.

How we treat loose permanent teeth:

We can often treat a loose permanent tooth to help it sit securely in its socket and reintegrate with the gum and jawbone tissue. However, a tooth that is too severely damaged will need to be replaced.

Learn More About Dental Implants Learn More About Gum Disease Therapy

×

Injury to the Gums, Lips, or Tongue

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

Oral cuts that cause bleeding can lead to a lot of distress and discomfort, and we can address minor lacerations in our Lexington office. Athletes are especially likely to experience these injuries.

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

Begin by rising with water to flush away debris and germs. Then, apply light pressure to the wound through a clean washcloth or a gauze pad until the bleeding stops. You can address swelling and pain with an ice pack or cold compress.

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

We can treat minor oral wounds with stitches and provide instructions for keeping the site clean. However, head to your local ER if the bleeding doesn’t stop after ten minutes of applied pressure.

×

Jaw Pain

Is jaw pain a dental emergency?

While jaw pain can be quite frustrating, it isn’t usually a dental emergency if it isn’t disrupting a person’s daily activities. However, contact our office if your discomfort becomes chronic or unbearable or if it makes it difficult to eat or speak.

How you should handle jaw pain:

We’ll be happy to provide you with first-aid tips and schedule you for an appointment over the phone. Until your visit, you can reduce your discomfort by taking over-the-counter pain relievers and applying an ice pack or cold compress. However, go to your local emergency room if you believe your jaw is broken or dislocated.

How we treat jaw pain:

The best way to address jaw pain depends on what causes it. We’ll be happy to determine the best treatment to resolve your discomfort when we see you at our Lexington office.

×

Something Stuck Between the Teeth

Having a stubborn object stuck between your teeth can be quite uncomfortable, and the first thing to do when this happens is to treat yourself to a thorough session of brushing, flossing, and rinsing. If this does not remove the object, contact our office in Lexington. One of our skilled emergency dentists will be happy to carefully and gently remove the debris. Never attempt to remove something stuck in your teeth with a sharp tool such as a toothpick or tweezers.