You’ve been in an accident or taken an impact to the face, and a tooth has been knocked out. Or you bit into something hard, and you felt and heard a tooth shatter. Or you’ve had this weird pain in your jaw for a day or two and all of a sudden it becomes excruciating. Or that excruciating pain suddenly stops for no reason. Or you find the inside of your mouth is bleeding. When things like this happen, call Weddell Dental in Bloomington, MN at 952-679-1365 for a same-day appointment.

Yeah, But It’s Just A Tooth…

If you have experienced any of those scenarios, you have a dental emergency. Don’t think that because it’s not immediately life-threatening, it’s not really an emergency. If you had a broken arm, you’d visit the ER to have it set and cast, wouldn’t you? Emergency treatment is designed to alleviate suffering and to avoid further complications just as much as it is to save lives.

If you lose a tooth permanently, the neighboring teeth will begin to shift. That impairs your bite – how your teeth come together. You’ll wind up chewing more on the other side which can lead to premature wear and tear on your tooth enamel and even cause headaches due to muscle imbalances.

If a tooth has been damaged or broken, the insides are exposed to disease-causing bacteria. Dental infections are no joke. Generally, they really hurt. Worse, the infection can eventually get to the tooth root and the underlying bone, causing the tooth to fall out and the bone to eventually weaken. Bone loss can actually change the shape of your face.

Treat a dental as a real emergency, because it is.

First Steps

If a tooth has been knocked out, handle it carefully while being careful not to touch the root. Rinse it thoroughly under clean water and try to put it back into its socket. If you’re successful, leave it alone! Given time, the tooth will sometimes re-root itself which will save you a huge amount of time and money having it replaced.

If you’re not successful, place the tooth in a small container of milk. That will help the tooth stay viable for a longer time. Call Weddell Dental in Bloomington, MN at 952-679-1365 for a same-day appointment. We average about 90 percent of same-day requests, so the odds are very good that we can see you. Dr. Weddell is quite experienced at getting teeth to re-root.

If a tooth or a dental restoration has broken, save all the pieces you can. It may be possible for Dr. Weddell to bond it back together. Again, contact our office at once. The sooner you’re seen, the less the likelihood of dental infection.

If you’re experiencing significant bleeding inside the mouth for no obvious reason, it may be due to a broken restoration or something else that produced sharp edges. Try to stop the bleeding yourself for 30-40 minutes. If you’re unsuccessful, visit your local emergency room at once. Follow up by scheduling an appointment with Weddell Dental so Dr. Weddell can see what’s causing the problem.

If you’re experiencing significant pain in the jaw or in one or more teeth, you likely have a dental infection. The worst thing you can do is to try to tough it out. Infection tends to worsen and can even spread to your bloodstream if it’s left untreated. And when the pain suddenly goes away? That means the nerve has died. It does not mean that the problem is solved. You need to be seen as soon as possible by a caring, experienced dentist to avoid future problems.

Time Is Teeth In A Dental Emergency

As you’ve seen, the prospect of losing one or more teeth isn’t something to take lightly. Replacing a missing tooth can cost thousands of dollars. Replacing missing bone can cost thousands more.

There’s no reason to let money stand in the way of getting the care you need. We accept a wide variety of dental insurance plans, and we have a variety of payment options available for those who need them. We’ll be happy to discuss payment options with you.

In any dental emergency, count on Weddell Dental in Bloomington, MN to provide prompt pain relief and emergency dental care. For a same-day appointment, call 952-679-1365.