Dental Emergencies
Hillsboro, OR
 Dental emergencies can be sudden and frightening, leaving you wondering what to do next. Unlike other types of medical emergencies, many people hesitate when they sustain a dental emergency because they are uncertain if their problem is urgent. If you or somebody you care about has suddenly sustained sudden tooth loss, has an object lodged in their teeth, or has bitten their soft tissue or tongue, it’s important that we at Hoffman Dental take a look inside of your mouth right away. The longer you postpone and delay treatment, the worse the outcome for you may be.
If you have an emergency, call 911 immediately.
Common Types of Dental Emergencies that Require Immediate Treatment
Whether you were playing sports and had a ball hit you in the face, or you tripped, falling down the stairs, and you’re now holding your tooth in your hand, you have just suffered from what is known as a dental emergency. For some reason, many people struggle with knowing what is considered a dental emergency, causing them to not seek immediate treatment at our office. These questions can help you understand better if your condition is a dental emergency.
Are you in pain? If so, then you have a dental emergency. This could be the sign of a broken tooth, advanced tooth decay, or an injury to the site. Is your mouth bleeding? Unless you’re experiencing mild bleeding from brushing and flossing (which is a sign of gum disease, which also does require treatment at our office), you have a dental emergency. Your teeth should never bleed. Did you crack a tooth or did it fall out? That is a dental emergency, and we need to take a look right away! Do you have an infection in your mouth? That can be a sign of an abscess, which can be extremely dangerous if we don’t treat it promptly.
If you have lost a tooth, place it in a glass of milk and give us a call right away. We will squeeze you in to ensure that your tooth loss isn’t permanent. Even if your tooth is just loose or wiggly, we can still fix it for you. Do not delay in reaching out to us! If something is lodged in your teeth, you can try to coax it out gently with dental floss, but do not use a toothpick or any other sharp object to dislodge it. We can get it out using our professional tools and equipment, so be careful and don’t risk injuring yourself further by trying to fix it at home. A dental abscess can quickly spread to your brain or other parts of your body.
This is nothing to take lightly; if left untreated, it can be fatal. If you notice pus or a foul odor in your mouth, bleeding, or any other signs of an infection, you cannot delay treatment. The sooner we intervene, the better your outcome will be. For immediate pain, you can gently rinse your mouth out with salt water and apply a warm or cold compress to your cheek to help reduce it.
If you have sustained a dental emergency, then time is absolutely of the essence. The longer you wait for treatment, the worse your outcome will be. You can lose your teeth - or worse, your life - if you don’t act quickly. If you have a dental emergency, please give us a call right now at Hoffman Dental at (971) 979-3737 to schedule a same-day appointment with our highly intelligent and trained dental staff to help you treat your emergency and greatly improve your prognosis.
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