Dental Emergencies
We understand that accidents will happen from time to time, but we’d like to give you information on ways to reduce the chance of a dental emergency.
- Sports – Always remind your child to wear a mouth guard. This helps protect the teeth along with the cheeks, lips, and tongue.
- Food – Be careful when eating hard foods, like popcorn kernels and ice. Chipped teeth can lead to pain and an emergency dental visit.
- Teeth are only for chewing – This seems silly, but some people think teeth can be a substitute for tools like knives, scissors, and nail clippers. Please don’t tear or cut things with your teeth!
- If an accident does happen during our office ours, call us immediately. We will see you as soon as possible or recommend you go to the emergency room. Below are some suggestions for immediate action:
- Bitten Tongue, Cheek, or Lip – Clean the area, apply a cold compress, and wait for bleeding to stop. If it doesn’t, an emergency room should be your next stop.
- Food Between Teeth – Use dental floss and swish with water to dislodge. If this doesn’t work, contact our office so we can help.
- Tooth Knocked Out – Gently dab the tooth clean, but be careful not to harm the nerve – on the tooth and in your mouth. If possible, place the tooth back into the socket – if not, place it in a glass of milk and head to our office immediately!
- Broken Jaw – Apply a cold compress and go to your nearest emergency room.
While we are happy to provide care to our patients for dental emergencies, please note that new patients are not seen for emergencies outside of office hours.
Call Today!
To reserve your dental checkup, consultation, or second-opinion visit, call 214-522-3110 today. Located in Highland Park, Dr. Rao’s Dallas dentist office serves families from the SMU area, Katy Trail, Park Cities, and surrounding communities. Visit our blog and Facebook page to learn more about Dr. Rao and her team, and join the conversation with our team and patients.
