Dr. Koo is the best! His staff is amazing and so friendly. My family loves him too. Great with kids. Dr. Koo is very fast, efficient and painless. I’m very sensitive and going to the dentist has always been so scary for me. Not with Dr. Koo, he’s a master at the painless novocaine shot!
![Handling Holiday Dental Emergencies In Seattle WA [BLOG]](https://jahyunkoodds.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2021/08/same_day_smile_3.jpg)
Your mouth is vulnerable, especially during the holiday season when more folks are out and about, and alcohol is often consumed. Regardless of how careful you might be, you could still experience an injury or accident at any time. That’s why it helps to know what to do if you encounter the more common dental emergencies. Keep reading to hear more about handling these situations correctly. The main thing to remember is that if your emergency unfolds during the day, you call our office directly at 206-922-4573. Same-day appointments are often available, and if you cannot call, you can drop by for a walk-in visit. If our office is closed (such as late at night), you can call our after-hours number at 206-922-4573.
When In Doubt, Come In
If you don’t know whether to seek treatment or let it ride, always go with getting your problem evaluated. We would much rather see you than have you not get the care you need at such a critical time.
Besides calling, you will need to try to stop any bleeding ASAP. Use a clean cloth or sterile gauze and apply direct pressure to the cut. If you cannot make it stop, then go to your local emergency room as soon as possible for help.
A Review Of Dental Emergencies
Here is a list of five common reasons for requesting same-day dental care and also some specific advice for handling these.
- You Lost A Tooth: If you had a tooth knocked out, find it and gently rinse it off. Then put it in a container or cup and cover it with water or milk. Bring it with you to your emergency appointment, as our dentists may be able to use it. And if you are bleeding, stop that first and foremost. Take a pain reliever to manage the discomfort.
- Your Tooth Feels Loose: You will be tempted to see just how loose it is, but don’t! Even just using your tongue can be the last pressure needed to make it come out completely. Stop bleeding, take pain relievers, but call either of our phone numbers and let us know what happened.
- A Tooth Is Cracked: As with above, pick up any pieces that broke off and bring them with you. You can cover any enamel problems with dental cement (available in drug stores), but you will need an emergency appointment soon. Even if the pain is minimal, you could have severe damage inside the tooth.
- A Filling Or Crown Came Out: For a filling, don’t worry about finding what fell out. Use dental cement as a temporary replacement until you can be seen. For a dental crown, again use dental cement but this time as an adhesive to keep the crown where it belongs. Dental cement is great stuff, but it only lasts around 48 hours, so don’t wait to make that phone call.
- Your Tooth Aches: One problem with tooth pain is how it can appear then go away. This tempts you to ignore it, hoping it will one day go away for good. Any tooth pain is a sign there’s a problem, but if the pain suddenly gets much worse, call is immediately and explain what happened.
We Are Ready For Your Call
We hope you feel better knowing what preliminary steps to take, and that you can rest assured that we’ll be here to take care of the rest. Call our Seattle, WA dentist’s office today at 206-922-4573 if you are experiencing any of these common dental emergencies, or even if yours is completely different. One way or another, Dr. Koo and our entire team will get you smiling big again. You can also use our online form to set up your non-emergency appointment.