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Dental Emergency

We allow time in our schedule for Emergency Care in our office

New Patients / Inactive Patients may give us a call at (618) 988-8130 during regular office hours. Emergency attention outside of regular hours may be difficult to provide due to absent or outdated health information. 

Active Clients should call (618) 988-8130 and assistance will be provided.

If you have a dental emergency, you need to call your dentist right away! Some dental emergencies are time-sensitive and have to be taken care of as soon as possible. If you live in Herrin, Marion, or Goreville and need an emergency dentist, give Tim Loughran Dentistry a call! We want to give our patients the best possible care that we can. It is important to us that our patients feel comfortable and at ease when dealing with a dental emergency. We have listed common dental emergency problems below and how to handle them.

First Aid for Dental Emergencies

Toothache

First, rinse the mouth vigorously with warm salt water to dislodge trapped food.  Second, use a toothpick, or tie a knot in a piece of dental floss, to clean away excess food from between teeth.  The best over-the-counter products for toothaches are aspirin and ibuprofen-like compounds (Motrin, Aleve, generic), Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is minimally effective. DO NOT keep aspirin in the mouth as it is an acid and will cause a chemical burn.  See a dentist as soon as possible.

Knocked-Out Permanent Teeth

Find the tooth, and handle it by the smooth top (crown).  You may rinse the tooth but DO NOT clean the root portion or handle it unnecessarily.
Attempt to reinsert the tooth into its socket.  If the root is not dirty or damaged from it being mishandled, this is your best opportunity for successful reattachment, so just do it!  Hold the tooth in place by biting on a clean gauze or cloth.
Contact a dentist immediately.  If the tooth is damaged and reinsertion is not possible, carry the tooth in milk or place in water if milk is not available.  Most importantly, keep in mind that time is a critical factor in saving the tooth by replacement.

Broken Tooth

Rinse the dirt from the injured area with warm water.  If front teeth are involved, locate, and save any broken tooth fragments for possible reattachment.  Immediate dental attention is advised when the involved tooth is sensitive to water or air. For more information about broken or chipped teeth, visit Dr. Loughran’s Blog.

Cut or Bitten Tongue, Lip, or Cheek

First, apply ice to the injured area.  After that, apply firm but gentle pressure with a clean cloth if there is bleeding.

Possible Broken Jaw

If a blow to the jaw area results in the teeth not sitting properly together, a fractured jaw is possible. Firstly, try to keep the jaw from moving by using a towel, tie, or handkerchief wrapped over the head and under the chin. Contact a dentist or proceed to a hospital emergency room immediately.

Bleeding After Baby Tooth Loss

Fold up and place a piece of clean gauze or cloth over the bleeding area.  After that, have the child bite on the gauze with pressure for 15 minutes.  This step may be repeated once, but if bleeding persists you should contact a dentist as soon as possible.

Our Hours

Mon:   8:00 AM – 5:00 PM


Tue:    8:00 AM – 5:00 PM


Wed:  8:00 AM – 5:00 PM


Thu:   8:00 AM – 5:00 PM


Fri-Sun: Closed

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  • Main Office

    200 S 16th St Herrin, Illinois

  • Call Us

    (618) 988-8130

  • Email Us

    office@myteethforever.com

WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU

Do you have a comment, question or concern? We always appreciate feedback and we would be more than happy to answer any of your questions about our office or helping you improve your smile