There are many reasons that patients throughout California need emergency dental care. We have found that a dental emergency can strike at any time. Our dentist and our staff at Rockaway Beach Dental will try to accommodate any last minute appointment requests so that you, our patient, doesn’t have to live with oral pain. If you have a toothache or a major dental emergency, call (650) 355-3126 right away. We offer extended hours as needed and will do our best to get you treated immediately.
Do I need emergency care?
Ultimately, YOU are the best indicator for emergency dental care, but some things that require immediate emergency attention are…
- Toothaches – Did you brush, rinse and floss and it still hurts.
- Tooth Knocked Out
- Gum/Tongue/Cheek Injuries – If bleeding will not stop.
- Broken/Loose Braces – Call your orthodontist immediately.
- Chipped/Broken Teeth – If the chip is significant or your tooth is cracked or your tooth is in pieces.
- Lost Filling/Crown
- Tooth Loose
- Abscess
Sports, cars and dental care
The American Dental Association reported that the number one cause of adult tooth damage every year is playing sports. This spans all types of athletics and creates the need for emergency appointments throughout San Mateo County. Most adults don’t have the time to play for an organized league, even a casual one. This means that even a backyard game of basketball can lead to a tooth being damaged or knocked out. The same holds true for kids playing sports throughout the 94044 area. There are ways to protect yourself like wearing a mouth guard but when an emergency strikes call (650) 355-3126.
Car accidents are another leading cause of tooth injury. While the enamel on your teeth is strong, it may not be strong enough to prevent your tooth from breaking when colliding with the steering wheel. With millions of accidents a year, teeth are a common victim. We recommend that patients of Rockaway Beach Dental get examined at a local emergency room after being in a car accident, just to make sure that they haven’t sustained any physical injuries. Afterwards, patients in the San Mateo area should call for a dentist appointment. The emergency room does not treat tooth damage, so you will need to see both types of medical providers.
Severe and sudden toothaches
Severe and sudden toothaches are another reason people end up needing an emergency dentist. Our dentists are experts at examining teeth and determining what is causing the pain. It may be a little cavity that grew into a big one and now requires a root canal. Another possibility is gum disease which can cause the gums to recede, leaving the tooth and roots exposed. Both can lead to intense pain and require emergency treatment. We don’t want Rockaway Beach Dental patients to experience oral pain and we’ll do our best to treat you right away so that you can remain comfortable.
If a tooth infection is left untreated for a long period of time, it can lead to a dental abscess. This is extremely painful. An abscess is a major tooth infection that can settle into your jawbone and the floor of your mouth. If it does, oral surgery may be necessary in order to remove the infection. We can let you know if we see an abscess during your dental exam with our dentist.
