Emergency Dental Care

While dental emergencies are rare, they could happen when you least expect them. Below are some examples of common dental emergencies and how you can best handle the situation.

Knocked-out Teeth

In case of an emergency in which a tooth has been completely knocked out, you will need to act quickly as there is a small timeframe that a tooth can possibly be re-implanted.

First, you will need to clean and preserve the knocked-out tooth. Holding the tooth by the crown (the normally visible area), rinse the tooth with water but avoid any scrubbing. If possible, you can place the tooth back in the socket. If not, place the tooth in a sealed container and cover it with milk, a saltwater mixture, or the injured person’s saliva. Next, call our office immediately so that Dr. Lagoo and our team can take care of you as soon as possible!

Broken/Chipped Teeth

Similar to that of a knocked-out tooth, it is important to immediately rinse and preserve the broken portion, as it may be possible to reattach the pieces. After calling our El Paso dental office, you may combat any pain or swelling by applying ice to the area until you can be seen by Dr. Lagoo.

Severe Toothaches

Severe tooth pain is a common problem that can have many causes, such as decay, debris stuck under the gum line, a fracture, or an infection.

First, please call our office immediately to schedule a comprehensive exam so our dedicated team can determine the cause of your pain and decide on the appropriate treatment. In the meantime, acetaminophen can be taken for the pain, but please refrain from taking aspirin or ibuprofen during a dental emergency. These medications are anticoagulants and can cause excessive bleeding. You can also apply ice to the area, for no more than 20 minutes each hour, until you can be seen.