I am very thankful that I have been fortunate enough to find this Dentist Office. The entire staff are very pleasant and genuinely care about a good outcome regardless of your situation. You could not ask for better. Dr. Parker is great…😀 …
Emergencies can happen at any time or day. That’s why you need to call our Decatur, AL dental office immediately at 256-274-8680 to schedule an emergency appointment. Dr. Betts will fit you in as soon as possible. Thanks to his training and experience, he can also help you get the emergency dental care you need.
Even though you cannot predict dental emergencies, you can plan for them. Such planning can make a huge difference when faced with a confusing and even scary situation.
Two Big Ways To Be Prepared
There are two things you can do right now to prepare for any kind of dental emergency.
CREATE YOUR OWN DENTAL FIRST AID KIT
Most homes have some kind of first aid kit in the bathroom or garage. Many people even put a small one in their cars. That’s so you can grab something quickly when there is a medical emergency.
You can create the same for dental emergencies. Start by getting a box or container with a lid. Put the words “Dental Emergency Kit” on the top or side. Then put the following in it:
- Plastic gloves
- Sterile gauze packs
- Non-aspirin pain relievers
- Dental cement with its applicator and instructions
- A tiny container with a lid
Then put this somewhere that everyone in your home will be able to remember and reach.
PUT OUR NUMBER IN YOUR PHONE
If someone in your home has a cracked tooth and is bleeding from the gums, do you want to waste time looking up the phone number to call? To speed things up and make it easier, store our phone number (256-274-8680) in your phone’s contact list. Name it “Dental Emergency” to make it that much easier to find when your mind is going in several different directions at once.
Always Stop Bleeding First
Some dental emergencies include bleeding from your gums, tongue, or mouth. If you are bleeding, the first thing you need to do is stop it. Use something sterile (or at least very clean) and apply direct pressure on the wound. This will hurt a bit, but it’s the best way to stop the bleeding.
If you cannot get it to stop, then visit your local emergency room immediately. Whatever damage has been done to your teeth is not as important as stopping that bleeding.
Specific Dental Emergency Responses
While you can’t know how to respond to every kind of dental emergency, here are some of the most common ones and specifically how you should handle them.
LOOSE TOOTH
Don’t test to see how loose it really is. That could just make it fall out. Stop any bleeding and call our Decatur, AL dental office immediately to explain what happened. Use cold packs or non-aspirin pain relievers for any pain.
LOST TOOTH
Gently pick up the tooth from the top part, rinse it in water, and gently try to place it back in the socket. If it won’t stay, put it in a tiny container and cover it with milk or water. Then call Dr. Betts for an emergency appointment. The tooth might not be salvageable, but having it will help.
STRONG TOOTH PAIN
Use cold packs and non-aspirin pain relievers to manage the pain. Then call us at 256-274-8680 to schedule an emergency appointment as soon as possible.
DAMAGED TOOTH
Even if you have little or no pain, you still need to call our Decatur, AL dental office for an emergency appointment. Anything that can damage tough enamel can cause internal damage to the tooth.
LOST DENTAL CROWN OR FILLING
Use dental cement (available in most drugstores) as directed. For a dental crown that came off a tooth, use the dental cement as a temporary adhesive and stick the dental crown back where it belongs. For a lost filling, ignore it and use dental cement as a temporary filling. Then call Dr. Betts for an emergency appointment, as dental cement normally lasts 1-2 days.
Call us TODAY at 256-274-8680 as soon as you have a dental emergency. Don’t waste time wondering if this counts as an emergency. Just call us and explain what’s going on. Dr. Betts will fit you in as soon as he can to help you.