With the recent COVID-19 outbreak, your RiNo dentist in Denver is closed for all cosmetic or elective procedures. In fact, they’re generally only open to treating dental emergencies. While it may be easy to deduce that things like regular cleanings and professional teeth whitening are out of the question for the time being, what should you do if you’re not sure if it’s a dental emergency? Here are a few questions to ask yourself to determine whether or not you need emergency treatment.
A knocked-out tooth is arguably the most urgent of all dental emergencies. This is because, when a tooth is dislodged, you only have about an hour to see your dentist to get it successfully re-implanted before the tooth is no longer viable. At that point, you would have to get your tooth replaced with either a bridge, partial denture, or dental implant, all of which can be costly. You can avoid those potential expenses by calling your dentist as soon as your tooth is knocked out.
Do you have a toothache that has persisted for several days? Do you find no relief when taking over-the-counter pain medications like Tylenol? If yes, then you may have a cavity or infection deep within the sensitive center of your tooth that’s causing pain. Call your LoDo dentist in Denver as soon as you can.
Having loose teeth as a kid might be cute, but once you’re an adult, your pearly whites should stay firmly anchored in your mouth. Loose teeth might be a sign of gum disease, which is a serious bacterial infection in your gum tissue. If gum disease is left untreated, it could cause your teeth to become loose and eventually fall out.
If your mouth is bleeding, you can stop it by applying pressure to the site with a piece of cloth or gauze. Once the bleeding has halted, call your dentist right away. Even though the immediate problem has been taken care of, you might need additional treatment.
These are scary times we’re living in, but just because your favorite restaurant is shut down doesn’t mean your dentist is too. If you have an emergency, you can rest easy knowing that your dentist will remain open to treat all your urgent needs.
Dr. Bryant Franz is a graduate of the Colorado School of Dental Medicine. His professional memberships include the American Dental Association, the Colorado Dental Association, and the Metro Denver Dental Society. He strives to make dental appointments as relaxed and stress-free as possible. If you call with a dental emergency, his team will do their utmost to schedule you for an appointment on the same day. To get your emergency situation dealt with, contact Dr. Franz’s office at (720) 943-7484.
