Dental Emergencies

For dental emergencies please call our office at (970) 945-9119. If you have a dental emergency over the weekend, please call our office to get the best phone number to reach the doctor on call.

Knocked out tooth

If a tooth is completely knocked out, hold tooth by the crown (top) of the tooth avoiding the root. Quickly rinse the tooth off with water. Do not scrub the tooth as this can damage the ligament. Place the tooth in saline, milk or saliva, not water. Call our office immediately at (970) 945-9119. Place moist gauze or a wad of tissue over the bleeding socket to control the bleeding. Keep steady biting pressure over the area.

Broken Tooth

When trauma occurs to the mouth, it is important to get an evaluation of the severity of the incident. An x-ray is necessary to see if any damage was done to the nerve or root structure.

Small Chip

If it is a small chip in the enamel you may experience some temperature sensitivity. Small chips do not require immediate attention. In some cases chips can be smoothed out or bonding can be placed to repair missing tooth structure.

Fracture/ Broken Tooth

If a tooth is broken and the second layer of the tooth (more of a yellow color) called dentin is exposed you will experience temperature sensitivity. Depending on how the tooth broke, either bonding or a crown can be used to replace the missing tooth structure.

Fracture/ Broken Tooth With Nerve Exposure

If a tooth is broken to the extent that the nerve is exposed, you may see a red dot or the tooth will bleed from the inside. Immediate attention should be taken. The nerve in a tooth is a very delicate piece of tissue. When the tissue is exposed, it dies. If the tooth is savable, Root Canal Therapy will need to be done to remove the nerve of the tooth. After a root canal is completed a crown will need to be made to cover and protect the broken tooth structure.

Tooth Ache

To help us diagnose your situation, we need to know what symptoms you are having. An x-ray is necessary to check for possible decay, cracks, or an abscess. We will perform tests to check the vitality of a tooth and this will help us determine the necessary treatment. Let us know if you are having any of these symptoms: Sensitivity to hot, cold, sweets, pressure, swelling, fever, pain/sensitivity with biting, or if the tooth is broken.

All information © Heim & Johnson DDS 2425 So. Grand Ave. Glenwood Springs CO 81601