The time may come when you face a dental emergency, or think that you may have a dental emergency.
The problem could be as simple as breaking or cracking a tooth while eating, or as critical as taking a blow to the face and having a dental extrusion (where one or more teeth become dislodged (loose) or even knocked out).
When that time comes, which we certainly hope it doesn’t, for you or a family member, you need to call us immediately 24/7 at 805-983-0717 and discuss the issue with one of our staff.
Based on the severity of the issue, your pain level, and our patient load and dentist and staff availability, we may schedule a same-day consult or provide solutions until your appointment is scheduled. In some cases, we may even request you send us images so that we can assess the degree of urgency.
We do have four dentists and locations in Oxnard (Carson & Acasio Dentistry) and Camarillo (Spanish Hills Dentistry). In a worst case scenario, we may refer you to a specialist who we feel is qualified to treat your condition.
Dental emergencies strike fear in the heart of every person. Whatever the issue, there likely is pain, discomfort, difficulty in eating or swallowing, bleeding, or a host of other side effects. Besides the concern about the issue itself, dental emergencies cause a great deal of worry and stress.
Here are some dental issues where you should consider seeing an emergency dentist:
Toothaches
Toothaches are a pain, literally. While you are waiting for your appointment, rinse your mouth with warm water. Then you can apply a cold compress to the area. Use an over-the-counter pain reliever such as Tylenol o Advil to help relieve the pain. Most toothaches are not an emergency. https://tinyurl.com/cad-toothaches
Broken, chipped or cracked teeth
If the break is small, it may not be a dental emergency. But if the break is large, or the tooth is sharp, you should call us as soon as possible. https://tinyurl.com/chipped-teeth
When a filling pops out
Sometimes when a filling pops out, the remedy isn’t as simple as refilling the cavity. There may be more decay or damage to your tooth’s root. Again, avoid chewing on that side of the mouth and eat soft foods. https://tinyurl.com/cad-cavities
When your dental appliance or dentures are broken or lost
This can be extremely painful. Rinse off any broken pieces, and be extremely careful (or avoid) eating or drinking until you have seen us.
Where you have an extrusion (loose tooth) or the tooth has been knocked out
Try to eat soft foods and avoid chewing on that side of the mouth. Depending on the severity, we have a variety of options for repairing a loose tooth. If the tooth is completely knocked out, rinse it off, place it in a container with milk or water, and call us immediately. If there is bleeding in the socket, you can bite on gauze to control the bleeding until we see you. https://tinyurl.com/dental-extrusion
When a crown has broken or falls off
Rinse the crown and place it in a container of water or milk. Once we have evaluated your situation, we will make an appointment and make you a new crown in our lab and generally you will be in and out the same day. (We only make crowns in our Oxnard lab.
When you need an extraction
There may be an occasion where you have an impacted tooth or other condition which requires oral surgery. Wisdom teeth are an example of a tooth which suddenly becomes painful as it pushes against another tooth and perhaps has become infected. The only solution is oral surgery which will require an evaluation and appointment for the procedure. https://tinyurl.com/cad-extractions
When a tooth, your gums or mouth become infected
An oral infection can lead to serious medical issues. Infections can either be viral or bacterial. You will know you have a problem when your mouth is painful, swollen, shows redness, or you have difficulty swallowing. Only with an examination can we determine the cause and the cure.
A foreign object caught in a tooth
DO NOT TRY and remove the object yourself. You can cause more harm and possibly cause an infection. You should try and schedule a visit asap. Food that can be removed by flossing is okay, but a nut or nut shell that can’t be easily removed is another matter.
To be honest, unless you are suffering from a dire emergency, it is difficult to consult, diagnose and provide treatment the same day. The most important thing is to determine what the dental problem is, plan your treatment and schedule the next available appointment for the remedial action.
In the meantime, we will take any immediate action necessary, provide advice on how you can take care of yourself until your appointment, address issues of pain management, and offer assurance that you will receive the best dental care possible in order to set your mind at ease.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution to any dental problem. However, a few rules of thumb are … be careful when chewing, manage your pain (with OTC meds like Tylenol or Advil), don’t ignore the problem, control any bleeding, avoid strenuous activity, don’t smoke or vape, and keep your mouth clean with a warm water rinse.
The Carson and Acasio dental team has been serving patients in Ventura County for over a half a century (that’s a long time). We are familiar with just about every dental issue imaginable. We are well aware that visits to the dentist in any case aren’t fun.
But our role as dentists is to take care of you. And when you need us, that we will.
We have two convenient locations to provide the dental needs for you and your family. In Oxnard, call (805) 983-0717. For Spanish Hills Dentistry in Camarillo, call (805) 987-1711.
RICH SPRAGUE
Rich is our Marketing Services Manager. He’s responsible for our business rebrand, including the design of our new logo, the production of our marketing materials, and the development of our new website. He is extremely passionate towards the complete marketing and sales process. In addition to his Master’s Degree in Web Design & New Media, he has a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and has been writing articles since high school. Rich's email is rich@richsprague.com.
Comments