Patients in Hendersonville seek urgent dental care for various reasons

Some situations require more urgent dental care than others. These can include having a tooth knocked out, suffering from a painful toothache, or chipping a tooth after biting down on ice. Regardless of the reason or, in some cases, emergency, you will find a caring dental team at Family Dental Health of South Asheville near Hendersonville to respond promptly to your needs. We believe that being prepared when an emergency arises is critical to maintaining optimal oral health. Therefore, we will explain how to respond if any of the following situations occur when least expected:

• Knocked out tooth – If there is swelling, place an ice pack on your cheek or lip near the affected tooth. The chances of saving the tooth are the highest within the first hour, so call our office immediately at (828) 585-4049. If you can, hold the tooth by the crown and rinse off its root with water. Gently place the tooth back in its socket or put it in a container of milk. Bring the tooth with you to your appointment. We can restore your smile with a tooth replacement such as a bridge.
• Toothache – This can be the sign of decay or infection. Regardless of the cause of the pain, it is important to seek treatment immediately. Rinsing your mouth with warm water can help. If food is trapped between the tooth and gum, we recommend removing it with dental floss. Gently curve the floss around the tooth so it meets the gum line. If your mouth is swollen, we recommend placing an ice pack on your cheek to help soothe it. When you arrive to our office, we will thoroughly examine your teeth, mouth and gums to determine the cause of the pain and recommend a treatment to provide relief.

• Chipped tooth – You may have chomped down on a piece of candy or ice and noticed pieces of your tooth missing. Save the pieces and rinse them and your mouth with warm water. To reduce bleeding, apply gauze to the affected tooth for about 10 minutes or until it stops. Place an ice pack on the cheek or lip near the affected tooth if you experience any swelling. Schedule an appointment with our team immediately.

A dental emergency is like lightning and can strike at any time. Therefore, we hope you feel as prepared as possible and know you can count on us to restore health to your smile.