Some days come with unexpected struggles. You’re just living your life happy as a clam, then boom – you bite down on a seed and chip a tooth. Or little Freddie is guarding the soccer goal like a champ, then bam – he takes a kick to the mouth and a tooth flies out. Emergencies happen, and Dr. Jensen is here to help you in your time of stress and need.
Patients can reach Dr. Jensen after hours with a dental emergency by calling or texting his cell at +1-801-592-5695.
When To Call An Emergency Dentist
People have different pain levels, different responses to blood, and different ideas of what constitutes an emergency. The most common situations in which you should call the dentist for a same-day appointment are as follows:
- Knocked out tooth
- Intense oral pain in a tooth, the gums, jaw, or jaw joints
- A damaged crown or filling that leaves you unable to eat
- A chip or crack that’s causing pain to the point that you cannot sleep
- A crown or a veneer has come off in the front (yes, front teeth cosmetics are treated as an emergency in our dental office)
When to Go to the Emergency Room
If your mouth, head, face, or jaw is bleeding significantly and cannot be controlled you should go to the Emergency Room or Urgent Care. Once the bleeding has been controlled and you have been evaluated for significant injuries, you can call our office for an emergency dental visit to address any tooth related concerns.
You should also go to the emergency room if you think you may have broken your jaw and are in severe need of immediate assistance. If you are in stable condition but think your jaw is broken call our office and we may work with an oral surgeon to help you receive treatment.
When to Schedule a Convenient Appointment
If you are experiencing a toothache that does not keep you up at night, and taking over the counter pain medication helps you function during the day, you should schedule a dental visit for a convenient time. Waiting will only create the potential for a future dental emergency.
If your crown or filling becomes dislodged, but you can fit it back in place, put a dab of toothpaste on the underside of the restoration and replace it on the affected tooth. Then, call us to schedule a convenient appointment for us to recement or replace the restoration.
Right now, before you forget, log +1-208-853-2221 into your smart phone under “Emergency Dentist.” We’ll be literally a phone call away, the next time you have a dental emergency.
First Response For Dental Emergencies
Whether you need to see the dentist immediately or can wait and schedule a visit later in the week, you need to learn first aid response for urgent dental trauma. These tips are a good start.
Tooth Falls Out
When a permanent (adult) tooth is dislodged, find the tooth if possible. Hold it by the hard crown/tooth portion, not the root. If the tooth is very dirty, you may gently run it under a trickle of water to clean it, but DO NOT SCRUB THE ROOT. If you are able to, place the tooth back where it goes and call our Boise office ASAP. If you are not comfortable doing this then place the tooth in a small container of either the patient’s saliva or regular milk, and bring the tooth to our office. Timing is critical as the odds of success in saving the tooth go down significantly after the tooth has been out of the mouth for more than an hour.
Restoration or Temporary Falls Out
A crown, inlay, onlay, or filling may come out of place when you least expect. If possible, find the restoration. If it is in one piece, place a dab of toothpaste on the inside and put it back into place. If the restoration is in pieces, bring them to our office as it may help us to match the color of its replacement. If you cannot find it, don’t panic.
Call +1-208-853-2221, and we’ll determine on the call whether you need to come in immediately or make an appointment for a more convenient time.
Severe Toothache
Sometimes, people experience the quick onset of a significant toothache when a piece of food is lodged between teeth. Before calling the dentist or panicking, or even taking medication, try to floss around your hurting tooth. Once the rogue piece of food is dislodged, your comfort will be restored. Dr. Jensen has found popcorn kernals, toothbrush bristles and even a crab shell lodged beneath the gums so if this is the source of pain cleaning it out will bring relief and help you avoid a dental appointment. If flossing does not help, call us at 208-853-2221 to schedule a limited exam.
Call Us Today
If you want a dentist who’ll be available when you need him most, call us to schedule a new patient appointment today. We’re conveniently located in Boise on N Maple Grove Road, at the intersection with Ustick Road. We’re open early hours, Monday through Thursday, with Friday and Saturday reserved for large cases as needed.