Life is not without its small emergencies that require prompt, if not immediate, care. This is especially true when it comes to your mouth. Harpreet Brar, DDS, understands this, which is why she offers emergency dentistry at Healthy Smile Dental. From abscesses to teeth that are knocked out, Dr. Brar is on call for her patients in Turlock, California, offering same-day appointments when available. If you have a dental emergency, call to find out about immediate care.

An emergency dentist, like Dr. Brar, is a general dentist that makes themselves available for same-day care. Your teeth and gums play an integral role in your overall health, so maintaining your dental health is paramount.

If you consider that your mouth serves myriad purposes, not the least of which is eating and talking, you can see why waiting for an appointment simply isn’t an option. For this reason, Dr. Brar offers same-day appointments whenever possible.

What constitutes an emergency?

There are many reasons why you may need to see Dr. Brar sooner rather than later, including:

• A knocked-out tooth
• A toothache
• A severely cracked or chipped tooth
• A filling that falls out
• Broken dentures

Dr. Brar makes every effort to see you as soon as possible to remedy your problem so you can get on with your day.

If your pain is severe or you’re experiencing excessive bleeding, please give the office a call or seek urgent care.

What should I do if my tooth is cracked or knocked out?

One of the most common dental emergencies is a tooth that’s been knocked out or severely cracked. If this happens to you or your child, there are several steps you can take right away that may save your tooth.

First, if your tooth comes out in a trauma, locate it, if you can, and handle it very carefully. Only hold it from the crown, and not by the end with the roots. If it’s dirty, rinse it off carefully with water only. Try and place the tooth back into the socket in your mouth, and hold it there with your tongue or by clamping down a piece of gauze or a wet tea bag.

Believe it or not, your body will re-accept a tooth if you take swift action. If you’re unable to put your tooth back in its socket, preserve it as best you can by placing it inside your mouth in your cheek or in a glass of milk. Saliva works best to keep the tooth as viable as possible, but be sure there’s no risk of swallowing it, especially if you’re dealing with a child.

If your tooth is cracked, hold it in place with a tea bag or piece of gauze to avoid further cracking.

In both cases, call Dr. Brar as soon as possible to see about a same-day appointment.