Emergency Dentistry

Family dad mom girl outdoors smiling happy.jpeg

If you need dental attention right now, seek out Berkshire Dental, located in Clive, Iowa, for emergency dentistry. We offer same-day appointments to handle dental emergencies like abscesses, knocked-out teeth, and more. To address your dental emergency, call us at 515-987-7670 to schedule a consultation by phone right now.

What is a dental emergency?

Dentists define a dental emergency as any dental need that requires swift or immediate attention. Examples of common dental emergencies include:

  • One or more knocked-out teeth

  • Cracked teeth

  • Chipped teeth

  • A broken tooth to the gum line

  • A large object stuck between teeth or in the gum tissue

  • An abscess

  • An oral infection

Also, any dental issue that causes you severe pain is a dental emergency. 

What should I do with a knocked-out tooth?

If you knock out your tooth, you can often save it if you get to Berkshire Dental within an hour for emergency dental care. To do so, stay calm and follow these steps:

Locate and clean the tooth

First, pick up your tooth by the crown, which is the biting side of the tooth, visible inside the mouth. Don’t touch its roots, because if you do, you can disrupt its surface cells and make it impossible to re-implant it in your gums. Next, wash it off gingerly with water.

Store tooth

Now you must store your tooth. You can do so using one of two methods: in your mouth or in milk.

Place the tooth back in its socket, if you can, and hold it in place by gently biting down on a clean cloth or piece of gauze, or hold it in place with your finger.

If your knocked-out tooth won’t go back in its socket, your next best option is to hold it between your gums and cheek, or seal it in a small container and immerse it in milk. If you don’t have milk, use water with a pinch of salt.

How can I avoid emergency dentistry?

While you can’t predict the future, and you certainly can’t avoid all dental emergencies, you can take steps to decrease the likelihood that you’ll need emergency dentistry services.

Follow good oral hygiene practices by brushing and flossing at least twice a day, and schedule regular visits to Berkshire Dental for exams and cleanings. If you adhere to these habits, it’s much harder for gum disease and dental decay to take hold in your mouth.

When you can avoid it, don’t use your teeth to tear into, pry open, or hold anything that isn’t food. If you play sports, make sure to guard your teeth and mouth with the proper protective equipment.

If you believe that you’re experiencing a dental emergency, call Berkshire Dental right away at 515-987-7670.