Dental Emergency

Toothache - Many different situations may cause a tooth pain. Some common causes of toothache include tooth decay, sensitive roots, bruxism, trauma, sinus infections, loose fillings, leaking crowns, recent extractions, and gum disease. An x-ray and an exam at our Prague office will quickly determine the source of you dental emergency.

Lost crown or filling - If a temporary crown is lost, usually it's because the temporary cement has failed and the crown needs to be re-cemented. If a permanent crown is lost, that's more serious. it may be that decay has undermined the crown, or the crown itself is broken. Permanent cement may be used to replace the crown but often a new crown is needed due to decay or breakage.

Sensitivity after dental treatment - After a new filling or crown is placed, some post-op sensitivity is normal because the nerve inside the tooth can react to the dental treatment. It may be sensitivity to hot, cold, pressure, or even spontaneous. TIP: Give your tooth a few days to recover. It may take several days or even weeks, but post-op sensitivity usually gets better day by day until finally it's gone. Use pain medicine if needed (whatever you would normally use for a headache). If your pain is getting worse, wakes you up at night, or does not respond well to pain medicine, then call the dentist. Your nerve of the tooth might need help.

Light trauma - If you have an accident and your baby tooth or adult tooth is traumatized, you should call or visit your dentist as soon as possible. Light trauma usually does not cause permanent damage to the nerve or bone. However, hard trauma may result in a loose teeth or a tooth that is moved out of position or pressed deeper into the gum. An x-ray and exam will reveal the extent of damage so that we can decide the best treatment.

Trauma to baby teeth - TIP: If a baby tooth is lost due to trauma, do not replant the tooth in the mouth. Lost baby teeth are not replanted because they might hurt the permanent tooth under it. If a baby tooth is traumatized and did not fall out, then we watch and wait for symptoms. Usually, baby teeth recover from trauma, but they may discolor.

Trauma to adult teeth - If an adult tooth is lost due to trauma, then we'll do our best to save your tooth. You can gently brush off any dirt from the root (do not  clean the root too much because its biologic surface is fragile).  Then, you can replant the tooth back onto its hole in your mouth. TIP: If you are not able to replant the tooth, then either place the tooth in a small cup with saliva or milk, or keep the tooth in your mouth tucked into your cheek. The very best storage for lost teeth is called "Hank’s biologic tooth solution". Call your dentist and your tooth should be replanted as soon as possible.

Broken or fractured teeth - If a baby tooth or and adult tooth is broken or fractured, visit your dentist. Inside of every tooth, there is a nerve. If the nerve is exposed after a fracture, then it needs to be covered right away. Broken teeth are usually quite sensitive and they can be repaired with a bonded white filling. In the case of extreme fractures, a root canal, crown, or even extraction may be required.