Injuries to the soft tissues inside your mouth can occur from biting your tongue or cheek, flossing or brushing too hard, falling, or biting your lip. While minor injuries can be treated at home, you will need to see an emergency dentist in Burbank if your injury is deep, bleeds profusely, or is severely painful. Here are some interventions you can expect from your dentist when they treat the injury to your oral soft tissue.
Assessment and Cleaning
The first thing your emergency dentist in Burbank will do when you arrive is to assess the extent of your oral soft tissue injury. While most types of oral injuries can be effectively treated by a dentist, severe injuries involving tissue loss or disfigurement may require extensive surgery from a maxillofacial or plastic surgeon. After your wound has been assessed, the dentist will clean it with either sterile water or another appropriate cleanser. Cleaning the wound helps flush out bacteria and reduce the risk of infection.
Sutures and Antibiotics
If your oral soft tissue injury is deep or if the bleeding is difficult to control, your dentist may need to use sutures to close the wound. Prior to suturing your injury, the affected area will be thoroughly cleaned, and you will be given a local anesthetic injection to numb the area. Before you go home, your dentist may give you a prescription for antibiotics to reduce the risk of an infection.
If you require urgent dental care, then contact Oak Lawn Smiles Family Dentistry or stop by their website at OakLawnSmiles.com for more information.