4 Steps to Take If You Need Emergency Dental Care in Merrillville

Facing a dental emergency can be tough, but knowing how to handle the situation can help minimize the damage. The most important thing is to find your nearest local dentist in Merrillville, Indiana, but, in the meantime, you may need to manage pain, bleeding, or complications from tooth loss. Here are the important steps to bear in mind when you’re dealing with a dental emergency.

Step 1: Consider the extent of the issue

Not every dental problem is considered an emergency. Mild toothaches, minor cuts or sores, missing fillings, or discomfort from having something lodged between your teeth can be uncomfortable, even painful. But these aren’t typically considered dental emergencies, and you can make an appointment with your dentist to have such problems addressed.

Step 2: Recover missing teeth if you can (if applicable)

If you’ve lost a tooth, recovering and preserving it may improve the odds of successful reattachment. You’ll need to see your dentist immediately with your tooth if you’re hoping to have it reattached. Clean it gently with milk if necessary. If possible, place it back in the socket, but if not, place the tooth in milk while you get to the dentist.

Similarly, if you’re missing any dental prosthetics like permanent dentures, implants, crowns, or bridges, try to store them safely in a clean plastic bag or container. Your dentist will assess if they’re suitable for reuse and reattach them if they are still in good shape.

Step 3: Contact a dentist or other medical professional

If you’ve suffered an accident and have badly cracked or chipped teeth, missing teeth, damaged dental restoration, severe pain, or bleeding, you may require urgent attention. Call your dentist immediately for instructions. During business hours, you can call the dental clinic and let them know you’re coming. Some centers may let you simply walk in. Your dental care provider may have an emergency number that’s operational even during non-working hours. If these options aren’t available to you, head to your nearest urgent care center or emergency room.

Step 4: Manage pain while you wait

Here’s a list of things to do while you await medical attention:

• Use gauze or cotton balls to absorb any intense bleeding.
• Press gently on the wound and maintain pressure for a few minutes to staunch the blood.
• Apply an ice pack to your face or mouth as needed to help reduce any swelling.
• Rinse your mouth with warm salt water for some short-term pain relief.
• Keep your head elevated.
• Apply a cold compress to the affected area.
• Consider over-the-counter pain relievers.

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