What Situations Call for an Emergency Dentist?
If you are in extreme pain, there is an infection risk, issues with your dentures or the problem are likely to worsen without immediate care. Dental injuries and other disorders that develop abruptly may be regarded as emergencies.
What constitutes an urgent dental situation?
Any condition involving your teeth, mouth, or jaws that needs immediate dental care is considered a dental emergency. Emergencies can happen for a variety of causes, such as:
Toothache
An abscess (infection)
Knocked-out tooth
Chipped, cracked, or broken tooth
Objects caught between teeth.
Mouth or tongue lacerations (cuts) that are bleeding heavily
Jaw pain associated with clicking or popping noises
In many cases, postponing a visit to the dentist puts your mouth at risk of more damage or infection and may exacerbate an existing issue. When you phone your dental office, they will tell you if you require emergency attention or whether you might be able to treat your symptoms without going to the dentist for a while.
The top 4 dental emergencies are listed below, along with advice on what to do if you or a family member encounters them.
Knocked Out or Loose Tooth
While losing a tooth can be upsetting, it's crucial to maintain your composure. Your chance of suffering additional injuries can be reduced by being composed and understanding what to do if a tooth falls out. If you can see a dentist right away and the tooth is still in good shape, there may even be a chance that it can be reattached.
To try to keep the tooth, do the following:
- Don't touch the roots; instead, take the tooth by the crown (the biting or chewing surface).
- Remove any dirt or debris gently, but don't submerge it in water.
- Biting down on gauze or a clean towel to hold the tooth in place while attempting to replace it in its socket
- If the tooth doesn't fit, keep it moist by holding it in your cheek or putting it in a covered container or plastic wrap with milk (not water)
- Visit a dentist right away to schedule an urgent appointment.
After inspecting the tooth and your mouth, your dentist will inform you if they can reconnect it.
Your dentist will treat any wounds and review replacement possibilities when your mouth has healed if your tooth is not appropriate for re-implanting. These procedures could involve partial dentures, dental bridges, or dental implants.
Early tooth loss makes it impossible to repair the tooth because it could harm the permanent tooth that is developing underneath.
Fractured or Chipped teeth
Even if a broken tooth isn't necessarily a dental emergency, it's nevertheless advised that you visit the dentist as soon as you can. This is because when the inside of a tooth is damaged, the pulp may get infected or suffer damage, which calls for root canal therapy.
If a significant portion of your tooth has broken off, your dentist might be able to reattach it. Still, they will often advise bonding, crowning, or another type of natural-looking restoration to restore the tooth's function and appearance.
Before visiting a dentist, avoid eating with a chipped or cracked tooth. You can make a temporary seal with sugar-free chewing gum or paraffin wax if the tooth's edge is sharp and could hurt the soft tissues inside your mouth.
Sudden toothache
A toothache may be momentary, or the sign of a more serious issue and may occur for any number of causes. You should visit an emergency dentist if a toothache develops suddenly or is very painful, especially if there is accompanying swelling.
Your dentist will examine your mouth to determine the source of your tooth discomfort and make treatment recommendations. For example, you might need a filling or crown to fix a tooth that is broken, root canal treatment for a tooth that is diseased, or extraction for a tooth that is impacted, like a wisdom tooth.
Dentures and partials
If you have dentures or partial dentures, it's essential to take good care of them and clean them regularly. At the same time, you should also visit your dentist for regular checkups. In some cases, dentures or partials may require emergency relining, rebasing, or even replacement.
Call us for help!
We at Seaglass Dental Care understand that accidents and dental emergencies can be harrowing. Therefore, if you or a member of your family is experiencing a dental emergency, please call us right away so that we can help.
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