Nothing ruins a family get-together, sporting event, or special occasion quite like a dental emergency. But fortunately, there are compassionate dentists in Bloomington, MN who are there to help when disaster strikes.

At Weddell Dental, we go the extra mile to quickly address your dental emergency — even if you need to be seen right away or need help after normal hours! We don’t want you to have to suffer through dental pain or risk infection of a damaged tooth. In most cases, we’re able to see you the same day you call. And it’s easy to reach Dr. Weddell even in the evenings and on weekends. He is accessible by cell phone; you’ll find his number on our answering machine.

But you as a patient can take matters into your own hands to prevent dental emergencies and handle them quickly should they arise. Consider this your guide to dental emergencies! Continue reading to learn more. Then, partner with our compassionate team for excellent general, cosmetic, and restorative care. Call us at 952-679-1365 to schedule an appointment.

Dental Office Or Emergency Room?

When you have a dental emergency, it’s sometimes difficult to know who to call — particularly if you or a loved one is in pain and you’re trying to act quickly. But it’s important to know what requires an emergency room visit and what should be taken to your dentist.

The American Dental Association estimates that up to 79 percent of dental injury-related emergency room visits could have been diverted to dentists’ offices or other community services. These diversions would save state Medicaid programs money, according to one policy brief, but it would also bring benefit to the patient: They’d be able to receive care that’s more appropriate to their condition.

We’ll go into more detail about what constitutes a dental emergency in just a second, but here’s the general rule: If you are experiencing bleeding that you can’t seem to get under control, it’s best to seek immediate emergency attention from an emergency room or urgent care.

The Most Common Dental Emergencies — And What To Do About Them

Here are three dental injuries that we commonly treat at Weddell Dental, as well as what you should do immediately after the trauma or pain occurs.

  • Severe toothache. This can be the sign of a serious infection, so it’s important to call us right away. In the meantime, apply a cold compress to the side of your face your tooth pain is originating from. This will help alleviate pain and reduce swelling.
  • Loose or knocked-out tooth. In order to save your natural tooth, you must take action within a half hour or so of the trauma occurring. Pick up the tooth from the crown (the part of the tooth that’s visible when you smile), taking care to not touch the root. Rinse the tooth if there’s any dirt or debris on the tooth, and if possible, place the tooth back into its socket. If that’s not possible, place it in a small container of milk. Do not use water. Call us as soon as possible so we can repair the damage.
  • Cracked tooth. Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do when you’ve cracked a tooth beside coming in as soon as possible to repair the damage. The way in which your tooth is repaired depends on the severity of the fracture. Some cases are extremely minor, but more serious cracks will likely require a dental crown to repair the damage and support the tooth.

In any case, give us a call. We’re able to see you the same day you call 90 percent of the time! And our priority is always to get you out of pain and then get to work repairing the damage.

Preventing An Emergency

Good oral hygiene, routine visits to the dentists and simple safety measures — like wearing an athletic mouthguard when you’re doing any recreational activity — can help you prevent painful and costly dental emergencies.

The simplest thing you can do at home is to brush and floss regularly. This will reduce your risk of tooth decay and gum disease, which left untreated can escalate into big problems for your smile. Routine appointments serve a similar function. At Weddell Dental, we look for the earliest signs of dental complications so we can intervene while the problem is relatively minor. Our checkups even include oral cancer screenings.

We pride ourselves on dental care that’s thorough and comfortable! And we know our patients lead lives that are busy and full — and we don’t want dental emergencies to take away from. If you’re looking for a dental home in Bloomington, MN, call us today at 952-679-1365 to experience our top-notch care for yourself. You can also use our convenient online form to request an appointment.