If you have severe toothache pain or sustain an oral injury from a fall, sports or auto accident, contact your emergency dentist in Sacramento, Dr. A. Scott Grivas. Quick action can save your smile.

Contact Your Dentist in Sacramento

Contact A. Scott Grivas III DDS right away if you or a loved one experiences:

• A throbbing toothache with swelling of the jaw or gums
• Dental sensitivity (too hot, cold or sugar)
• A serious laceration to the lips, tongue or other soft tissues that will not stop bleeding
• A fractured or chipped tooth
• A broken denture
• A lost dental crown, porcelain veneer or dental filling
• Tooth loss (knocked out, or avulsed)
• Lateral tooth displacement
• Jaw misalignment or inability to open or shut the mouth

Depending on the situation, Dr. Grivas will tell you to go the hospital ER or dental office or to apply first aid measures at home.  A trained staff member is always available to advise you or to arrange a same day appointment as necessary. Your oral health and comfort are their number one priority.

First Aid for Teeth and Gums

Acting quickly, calmly and correctly is the primary rule of first aid. Here are some common dental situations and how to deal with them before seeing your dentist:

• Avulsed tooth This is a frequent, but treatable, childhood and sports injury. Many knocked-out can be replaced or splinted when patients get help within one hour of injury. Rinse the tooth with warm water to remove debris, but leave clinging soft tissue in place. Gently place the tooth into the empty socket, and hold it while going to the dental office. If you cannot implant the tooth, place it in a sealed container with milk or over the counter tooth preservation product. Or, you can try putting the tooth between the cheek and gums while travelling to the dental office.
• Lacerated lip, cheek or tongue Apply firm pressure and a cold compress for several minutes to quell bleeding. If it continues beyond 15 minutes, go to the nearest hospital emergency room.
• Fractured tooth, crown or filling  Bring the fragments in sealed plastic bag to the dental office.

Toothache Measures

Tooth and jaw pain, along with swelling, bad breath or drainage, frequently indicates tooth decay or abscess. Call the office right away for recommendations. The doctor may suggest:

• Over the counter ibuprofen for pain and swelling
• A cold compress to the affected area (20 minutes on and 20 minutes off)
• A same day appointment

At the office, the emergency dentist employs many techniques to restore decayed or abscessed teeth. They include tooth-colored fillings, root canal therapy and CEREC same-day crowns. Extraction is a last resort because your dentist wants to preserve as much natural tooth structure as possible.

Preventing Oral Health Problems

Dr. Grivas asks that patients come in every six months for hygienic cleanings and oral exams. These preventive treatments keep teeth and gums free of harmful plaque, tartar and their bacteria and discover problems early on.

Also, patients should brush twice a day and floss between teeth daily as recommended by the American Dental Association. Never chew hard foods such as peanut brittle or taffy, and  wear a mouthguard during sports. Lastly, custom mouthguards for people who grind their teeth protect tooth structure from excessive wear.

Unfortunately, accidents happen. Contact A. Scott Grivas III and his professional team  to restore your smile to full health, appearance and function.