Handling a Dental Emergency While Traveling

October 15, 2017

Filed under: Blog,General — Tags: — southlakedental @ 3:31 pm

With the holidays right around the corner, many people will be planning to travel to visit family and friends in other parts of the country. If you are one of them, you will be making a list and checking it twice to be sure that you are prepared for your trip. One potential pitfall that you might not be prepared for is a toothache or a lost filling while on your vacation. While we hope you don’t need it, here’s a list of things you can do if you experience a dental emergency while traveling.

Take an OTC Painkiller

If you are dealing with a toothache, the fastest and easiest course of action is often to take a painkiller. If you can take ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil), that’s usually the best for reducing pain and inflammation. If not, acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a good substitute. Follow the directions on the bottle and if you are taking any other medications, talk to the pharmacist at the store you go to to get the pills.

Look for Temporary Dental Filling Material

If you’ve lost a filling or a crown, dental filling material is available at most pharmacies. Look in the toothpaste aisle. This is a type of temporary cement that will reduce discomfort and smooth out the tooth (or hold the crown on for several days). Do keep in mind that this is only a temporary solution and that you will need to see your dentist when you get back.

Monitor for Signs of Infection

A toothache or a lost filling can turn into an infection, so it’s important to be aware of the signs. Swelling of the jaw, excessive pain, and a fever are all symptoms that you need to see a professional. In this case, the best course of action is to try to be seen by a local dentist. If it’s a weekend and no dentists are available, an urgent care center or, as a last resort, an emergency room can give you antibiotics if an infection is to blame.

Call Our Office

If you are traveling and you experience a dental emergency, we can advise you on what to do if the above options aren’t improving the situation. Also, we can make you an appointment for the day after you return home so we can get the problem addressed in a more permanent manner.

DIY Emergency Dental Care

February 18, 2017

Filed under: Blog,Dental Health — Tags: — southlakedental @ 2:05 am

It’s Murphy’s Law: You’re more likely to get a toothache or break a filling on a holiday, a weekend, or in the middle of the night, when your dentist is unavailable. No, that’s not true… but it can feel that way! When you have a dental emergency during the week, it’s generally simple to get in to see your dentist, but a painful dental problem at a time when the office is closed is a much more stressful event, so it only seems to happen more often. If you get caught in this situation, there are a few things you can do to make yourself temporarily more comfortable until you can make an appointment to see your dentist for a permanent fix.

See Your Pharmacist

If you normally take a particular over-the-counter medication for a headache, you can safely take it for a toothache, too. If not, stop into your pharmacy to find out which OTC medication you can take. It’s particularly important to ask first if you take any prescription medications, because some might interact with the most common painkillers, which are ibuprofen and acetaminophen. Also, if you have a health condition like high blood pressure or diabetes, it’s best to check first before taking any medications not specifically cleared by your doctor.

Get a Temporary Filling Material

Did you break part of a filling or have a crown pop out? You can perform a temporary fix by checking out the dental care aisle of your local drugstore or even some grocery stores. Look for a temporary dental filling material; one brand is Dentemp, but there might be others at your particular store. The material is soft and pliable, so all you need to do is clean off the tooth and stick a piece of it in the hole left behind. Once you bite down, the filling will mold to the right shape and will harden over time. Remove any extra material before it hardens. You can also use Dentemp and similar filling materials as a temporary glue to place a crown back in your mouth. One caveat: Make an appointment with your dentist to have the temporary material removed and the tooth fixed permanently as soon as possible. A DIY filling is not something to keep in your tooth over the long term!

Seek Emergency Care

Most dental emergencies are just uncomfortable and inconvenient. If you are in severe pain, however, or if your jaw is swollen and/or you have a fever and other symptoms of a serious infection, it’s not the time for do-it-yourself treatment. Call your dentist and see what he or she suggests. If your dentist is away, there should be someone covering emergencies. If you can’t get ahold of your dentist and you think the situation warrants it, you can even go to the emergency room. Note that an ER doctor will not be able to replace a filling or perform a root canal, but you will be able to get antibiotics if you need them.

Sometimes, you can avoid dental emergencies by keeping up with your routine dental care. Brush your teeth twice daily and floss before bed. Keep your twice-yearly dental checkups and cleanings. Catching problems when they first start can help you avoid a dental emergency later. If you do end up with a toothache in the middle of the night, call the dentist even if it goes away with an over-the-counter painkiller; the next time, it might not go away so easily.

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