Tips From an Emergency Dentist in St. George

As an emergency dentist in St. George, we are here when you need us.  We understand that it is impossible to tell when you will have an accident that could damage your teeth.  No matter how careful you are, things like car wrecks or sports injuries happen, and when they do, it is important to seek medical attention quickly.  If your tooth has been cracked, chipped, or knocked out, we encourage you to call our office immediately.  This way, we can provide the care that you need to feel better again. 

You should know that visiting the emergency room at the local hospital is a fantastic idea for the health of your body but a terrible idea for the health of your teeth.  The local ER doctor is not trained in how to treat your teeth.  They can triage the situation and help to stop the bleeding, but they cannot diagnose the problem or correct it since they are not trained to do so.  If you need an emergency dentist in St. George, the best thing to do is to call our dental office, even if you have a different family dentist that you see on a regular basis.  We offer extended hours and flexible appointment times so that you can receive care without advanced notice.

Tips for emergency care –

As an emergency dentist in St. George, there are several things that we recommend our patients do after damaging a tooth.  First, you should rinse your mouth with warm water or warm salt water.  After spitting out the water, you should be able to tell what happened or at least get a better visual.  If you have lost your tooth, try to find it and engage those around you to help with the process.  If you find the tooth, rinse it in warm water without scraping or scrubbing it, and then put it into a glass of milk.  If you visit our office immediately, we might be able to restore your natural tooth.  If not, we have several tooth replacement options including dental bridges and dental implants.

If your tooth was merely cracked or chipped, the goal is to prevent anything from touching it so that you do not experience any unnecessary sensitivity.  In some cases, you can do so by placing gauze onto your damaged tooth while on your way to our dental office.  Depending on the extent of the damage, even air touching your tooth can be an issue, and gauze will prevent this.  Simultaneously, it is important to visit us right away since this method will not allow you to eat or drink comfortably.

Once you reach our dental office, we will examine your teeth and gums to ascertain the extent of the damage and to make a treatment recommendation.  Our first goal is to stop the bleeding or address any immediate concerns.  We can then discuss using solutions like bonding, dental crowns, or dental veneers to correct damaged teeth along with dental implants and bridges to replace teeth that were knocked out.  To learn more, give us a call.