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(310)424-3100Emergency Dentistry - Torrance, CA
Repair Damaged Teeth & Renew Oral Health
Are you experiencing a dental emergency? If so, please call our dental office immediately for emergency dentistry in Torrance, CA. We try very hard to offer same-day care to our regular patients because we know that getting prompt treatment can be the difference between saving a tooth and saying goodbye to one. But what exactly is a dental emergency, and how should you handle one when it pops up?
A Lost Tooth
If a tooth comes completely out of your mouth, find the tooth and use water to gently rinse off any debris that’s stuck to it. Preserve it by storing it in its original socket or in a glass of milk or water — the key is to keep it moist. If you get to your emergency dentist in Torrance within an hour or two of losing the tooth, it’s very possible that we’ll be able to reattach it. This will save you money and time and prevent the need for a prosthesis in the future.
A Cracked or Broken Tooth
A cracked or broken tooth exposes the sensitive layers below the enamel, which means that your tooth may suddenly become very sensitive to pressure or hot and cold temperatures. This also makes it more vulnerable to infections. Be gentle when you’re chewing food, and take mild painkillers to manage your discomfort (but don’t put painkillers directly on the area around the tooth — you don’t want to end up with chemical burns). In any case, be sure to give us a call. We may be able to save the tooth with a root canal and/or crown.
A Cracked or Broken Dental Crown
You probably got a dental crown in the first place because one of your teeth was damaged or weak. When a crown can’t do its job anymore, that weakened member of your smile can start to hurt like nobody’s business! If it’s possible, try to keep the crown in place so it can provide limited protection until you get to our dental office. If that doesn’t work, hold onto the crown and just be careful with your tooth until your appointment. We might be able to repair the restoration, but if not, we’ll replace it as soon as possible.
A Severe Toothache
If your tooth is in a ton of pain and you can’t figure out why, don’t ignore the problem and hope that it goes away. You may be suffering from an abscess or another serious dental issue that requires immediate attention. Use mild painkillers or a bit of clove oil to manage your pain until you can see us. We’ll examine the tooth, make a diagnosis, and recommend a treatment. Depending on what the problem is, you may need a root canal or (in rare cases) an extraction.
Sensitivity to Hot & Cold Foods/Drinks
Tooth sensitivity is a common problem, and it often occurs because of circumstances that wear away the enamel over time, such as bruxism (teeth grinding) or the consumption of acidic beverages. However, something more may be happening if only one tooth suddenly becomes very sensitive to temperature changes. The tooth could be broken or infected, meaning that you need professional dental attention as soon as possible. Try to avoid exposing your tooth to anything that bothers it before you can come to our dental office.
Other Dental Emergencies
When other emergencies occur, it is often best for you to head to your local emergency room before you come to our dental office. For example, if you think that you’ve broken your jaw, or if you have a cut that won’t stop bleeding, the ER should be your first destination. The medical professionals there can address the issue better than we can. Later, it would be wise to follow up with Dr. Hamzehpour. If you’re unsure about whether you should head to our dental office or the ER, contact us and describe the situation. We will give you a recommendation based on your circumstances.
At Blue Coast Dental Group, we truly care about meeting your urgent needs. If you find yourself facing a potential dental disaster, just give us a call to get the attention you need.
Keys to Preventing Dental Emergencies
No two dental emergencies are alike. Even if two people chip their teeth, the severity of the injury will likely vary, possibly resulting in different methods of treatment. The only way to know how to properly address these types of injuries is to see a member of our team at Blue Coast Dental. However, wouldn’t it be nice to prevent dental emergencies in Torrance from the start? This is why we’ve compiled some helpful tips to keep your smile better protected from potential injury. While not all accidents are preventable, there are things you can do to ensure your teeth and gums remain damage-free over the years.
Keep Your Regular Dental Appointments
By keeping your regularly scheduled dental checkups and cleanings every six months, you can feel more at ease knowing that your teeth and gums will be decay- and disease-free. Our team of experts is here to check for any signs of tooth decay, gum disease, or even oral cancer and will thoroughly clean your teeth to remove hardened plaque and tartar. With the help of trusted professionals, your smile will carry you through every new stage of life, allowing you to remain confident and comfortable with your appearance.
Stick to An Oral Hygiene Routine at Home
If you want to reduce your risk for a serious tooth infection, make sure you’re doing your part by maintaining a good oral hygiene routine at home. Brushing twice a day for two minutes with fluoridated toothpaste, flossing at least once a day, and rinsing with an ADA-approved mouthwash are essential. Your dentist is always open to providing product recommendations or tips on how to improve your oral hygiene routine, so if you want to make sure you’re doing everything right, don’t be afraid to ask during your next appointment.
Eat Healthy Foods
Sugars and starches serve as breeding grounds for bacteria and will turn into harmful acids that break down tooth enamel. To reduce your risk for worn enamel, stains, and cavities, swap out the candy and chips for healthier options like leafy greens, fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy. These will not only prove to be a good choice for your waistline, but they will improve gum health and strengthen tooth enamel to better protect your smile.
Wear a Mouthguard
Athletes should always have the right equipment before starting a game. If you enjoy taking to the court, field, or track, make sure you have a customized mouthguard with you. This unique device will protect your teeth from the potential fly ball, stumble, or tackle. By helping to absorb the sudden impact and spreading it out along the arch instead of in one defined area, your teeth and soft tissues will remain safeguarded, avoiding chips, breaks, cuts, and more. Because sports-related injuries are high among teens and adults, this small oral appliance can be one of the most important things you wear, effectively reducing your likelihood of visiting the emergency dental office in Torrance in the middle of a game.
Use Tools to Open Packages, Not Your Teeth
It may be easier to just use your teeth to remove a tag from a piece of clothing or open a package but it’s doing a number on your tooth enamel. While it is strong and durable, it’s not indestructible, and once it’s gone, you can never get it back. This is why you should always take the time to find the right tool instead of using your teeth. It will save your smile in the long run, allowing you to maintain a healthier, more beautiful aesthetic as the years pass. Not to mention, you can avoid the potential of accidentally chipping or breaking a tooth in the process.
Understanding the Cost of Emergency Dentistry
In a dental emergency, many patients are worried about how much treatment will cost. They may even postpone getting help thinking it will somehow save them money. However, the exact opposite happens! The longer you wait to seek help, the more your treatment is likely to cost. Although some medical conditions, like a cold, eventually go away on their own with time, dental problems do not. They only get worse and cause more damage, necessitating more invasive (and expensive) treatments.
Every Dental Emergency is Different
As convenient as it would be to have a single amount for treating dental emergencies, we believe in addressing each case with a customized approach. After all, patients coming in with the same problem may need differing treatments. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to give you an idea of the cost associated with treatment until we’ve had the chance to examine your mouth and diagnose the cause of the problem. Once we’ve done this, we can talk to you about possible solutions and their estimated costs. Some possible treatments include root canals, tooth extractions, dental crowns, nightguards or mouthguards, and more.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Dental Emergencies?
It depends on your policy. Typically, one emergency visit per year is fully covered, but even if you must pay out-of-pocket for your visit, the diagnosis costs a relatively low amount. The treatment itself is usually partially covered. For example, most dental insurances cover about half of the cost of a dental crown. Before we start any treatment, we will look through your plan and find ways we can save you money on your emergency care. If needed, we can explain your benefits so you know exactly how much you’ll be expected to pay out-of-pocket.
Other Options for Making Dental Emergencies Affordable
We know that the cost of treatment is always a concern for those needing emergency care. To help ease your mind, we have several solutions for making dental healthcare costs more manageable. If you do not have dental insurance, you can join our dental savings plan. For a low annual fee, you get one annual exam and one emergency exam at no extra cost. The membership also includes X-rays and 20 percent discount on most other services. To divide your expenses into smaller monthly payments, you can apply for CareCredit, which offers low- or even no-interest financing.
Taking Care Of Your Smile Can Save You Money
Have you heard the expression, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”? It’s definitely true when it comes to your smile. The simplest way to keep your emergency dental healthcare costs as low as possible is to properly maintain your teeth and gums. You need to brush and floss your teeth every day to prevent plaque buildup. Then, at least every six months, you need to visit our office for a regular checkup and professional cleaning. If there’s a problem, we can fix it using a more conservative treatment, which costs much less than more intensive procedures. If you play sports or participate in risky activities, be sure to wear a mouthguard to avoid chipping or knocking out teeth. These small efforts can help protect your smile, as well as your wallet, from a dental emergency.
Emergency Dentistry Frequently Asked Questions
Even before a dental emergency occurs, it’s always best to have as much knowledge as possible on how to handle certain situations and whether or not you should get to a local ER. To provide you with as much information as possible, your emergency dentist in Torrance has compiled a list of frequently asked questions about emergency dentistry for you to review.
What is considered an actual emergency?
If you are experiencing pain in your mouth that has occurred as a result of a chipped or cracked tooth, knocked-out tooth, soft tissue laceration, or a severe toothache, it is in your best interest to call your dentist’s office and schedule an appointment as soon as possible. Even if you aren’t experiencing any pain but know something doesn’t feel right about a tooth, call us. After assessing the situation, we can walk you through the steps to caring for your emergency at home as well as work to get you in to see one of our skilled dental professionals.
How can I reduce my pain?
Everything from over-the-counter pain relievers to cold compresses can be used to reduce your pain. Unfortunately, it is finding the root cause of it that can sometimes be difficult and prolong the discomfort. This usually occurs when it is a severe toothache that is causing the problem. No matter the situation, make sure you alert us. We will be happy to assist in providing tips and ways to help with the pain and get you back to feeling better soon.
How should I remove an object that is stuck between my teeth?
The first thing you should do is rinse your mouth with warm water. This will help to loosen the object. Next, use waxed dental floss to gently move it back and forth between your teeth to try and dislodge the object. If you are unsuccessful, try using a water flosser (irrigator). If you are still unable to remove the object, make sure you get in to see us, as we have special tools we can use to safely and effectively remove it. Never use anything other than floss or a water irrigator to remove anything from your teeth, as you could do additional harm to your mouth.
When should I go to the emergency room?
While it might be natural to assume that any type of emergency should result in a trip to the ER, when it comes to dental injuries, oftentimes, the best individual to provide treatment is your dentist. The reasons for this are:
- They have more knowledge and experience dealing with dental problems
- The wait times are significantly less than an ER lobby
- You will receive proper care for the problem and be provided an effective treatment plan to fix it
Now, there are exceptions when you should get to an ER over the dentist’s office. If you are experiencing continual bleeding, increased swelling, or a broken or fractured jaw, contact us but head straight to the emergency room for immediate medical attention.