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Dental Emergencies in Westport, CT

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What Is Emergency Dentistry?

Emergency dentistry refers to the treatment of urgent dental situations. From injuries to infections, any situation that needs immediate attention is considered to be a dental emergency. We provide emergency dentistry services during and after our regular office hours.

Imperial Dental Associates provides emergency dentistry in Westport, CT. In case of a dental emergency, call 203-227-2520 during or after regular office hours. If you reach our after hours voicemail, please leave a message and someone will contact you shortly. In case of a life threatening emergency, please call 911 or proceed to the nearest emergency department.

Why Choose Imperial Dental Associates?

In a dental emergency you need a dentist you can trust. We are trained to respond quickly and efficiently in an emergency to offer the best chance of saving your teeth. We understand that emergencies can be stressful and frightening, and we offer calm, compassionate care in all situations.

When you choose Imperial Dental Associates as your dental home, you will always have a place to go in an emergency. Familiar faces and surroundings help put all patients at ease, especially young children. And all of your information will be on file with us, including your insurance, for your convenience.

Dental Emergencies We Treat

Our emergency services include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Toothache. Severe, persistent tooth pain should be addressed right away. A toothache typically indicates an infection and prompt treatment could save the tooth.
  • Knocked out tooth. A knocked out tooth can often be saved when treated in time. Hold the tooth by the crown and avoid touching the root while you carefully rinse it off. Attempt to place it back in the socket and bite down on some gauze. If you can’t get the tooth back in the socket, place it in a cup of milk. Contact us right away for further instructions. There is a limited amount of time to save the tooth. 
  • Mouth injury. A soft tissue injury to the lip, cheek, tongue, or other area of the mouth may be an emergency depending on the severity. If the cut is deep or if the bleeding won’t stop, contact us right away.
  • Cracked or fractured tooth. A minor crack in a tooth may be able to wait until the next day if our office is closed, but a large fracture is an emergency. If the break is large enough the dental pulp (the soft tissue inside the tooth) may be exposed to infection.
  • Loose dental prosthetics. If a filling comes out, a crown falls off, or some other dental prosthetic comes loose, contact us during regular office hours or wait until the next day. Unless it is causing you severe pain, the situation is probably not urgent.

Frequently Asked Questions About Emergency Dentistry

How do I decide if my situation is urgent enough to call after hours?
An urgent dental situation is one that can’t wait until the next day. If the pain is severe or the tooth is in danger, it is urgent enough. If you’re not sure, call us anyway and we will determine if you need to be seen right away or the next day.
How do I know if I have a true emergency?

An emergency becomes life threatening if any of the following occur:

  • Uncontrolled bleeding
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Loss of consciousness

If any of the above occur, call 911 or proceed to the nearest emergency department.

Why put a knocked out tooth in milk?
Milk keeps the tooth moist due to the natural sugars and proteins. Water will strip the tooth of its natural moisture and start to break down the tooth material.
Can you put a baby tooth back in the socket?
You should not put a baby tooth back in the socket. Doing so could damage the permanent tooth beneath it. If a baby tooth is knocked out before it is ready to be naturally shed, a space maintainer may be used to hold the space open for the permanent tooth to come in when it is ready.
Does a toothache need treatment if it comes and goes?
Just because the pain is not constant doesn’t mean that the tooth doesn’t need treatment. The situation is not urgent enough to be addressed after hours, but you should call your dentist immediately in case of any tooth pain. An infection could be in the early stages and would be easier to treat before it worsens.
How is a cracked tooth treated?
A cracked tooth will most likely need a root canal and crown. Root canal treatment removes the soft tissue from the center of the tooth to prevent infection and the crown protects the structure of the remaining tooth.
How is a knocked out tooth treated?
A knocked out tooth will be placed back in the socket if it is still viable and stabilized using a splint. The support structures for the tooth will naturally heal around the tooth over time and it will be stable again. The tooth will need to be monitored carefully to ensure that it is healthy.
What should I do if my tooth is knocked loose but didn’t fall out?
A tooth that is knocked loose from the socket should still be treated even if it didn’t fall out completely. The tooth will need to be stabilized while the support structures heal around it. And the tooth itself should be monitored to ensure that it remains healthy.

Contact Us

If you or a family member has a dental emergency, call 203-227-2520 during or after regular office hours. If you reach our after hours voicemail, please leave a message and someone will contact you shortly. In case of a life threatening emergency, please call 911 or proceed to the nearest emergency department.

Contact our office today to schedule your appointment!

15 Imperial Ave
Westport, CT 06880
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