What Is A Dental Emergency? 4 Common Situations And What To Do
When a sudden ache, broken tooth, or mouth injury strikes, knowing what is a dental emergency often becomes clouded by anxiety and pain. Deciphering if your situation calls for urgent medical attention is critical for your health and comfort and for saving your smile.
At GPS Dental Implants, we ensure everyone gets dental implants that match their unique needs. With an in-house digitally-equipped lab and highly trained oral surgeons and prosthodontists, we create specific treatment plans based on your situation. Our infrastructure is most beneficial for denture wearers and those with absent teeth, and we aim to provide Guided Patient Success.
Recognize Knocked-Out Teeth as Urgent and Seek Immediate Dental Care
A knocked-out tooth is a serious dental emergency. When a tooth gets knocked out, instant action is necessary to save it. The first step is crucial: retrieve the tooth, handle it carefully by its crown, and avoid the root area.
Gently rinse the tooth surface if it’s dirty. Avoid scrubbing or removing any remaining tissue fragments. If possible, try to place the tooth back into its socket. Be careful not to force it into place; keep it moist if it can’t be reinserted. Milk is a good option for storing the tooth because it helps to preserve the root cells.
Address Severe Toothaches Quickly to Prevent Further Dental Health Issues
A severe toothache can be incredibly uncomfortable and a sign of deeper problems. Underlying issues can cause toothaches, such as cavities, infections, abscesses, fractured teeth, or damaged fillings. Therefore, severe toothaches should always be addressed.
Seeing a dentist as quickly as possible is important, but immediate relief is crucial, too. Rinse your mouth thoroughly with warm water to clean it out. Use dental floss around the tooth to dislodge any particles that might aggravate the pain. Using a cold pack on your cheek or over-the-counter pain relief can also provide temporary relief.
Act on Broken or Chipped Teeth to Avoid Complications
Teeth may break or chip due to injuries, biting down on a hard substance, or large cavities. They involve different layers of the tooth structure, from the outer enamel to the inner nerve. A broken tooth can be painful and leaves room for bacterial infiltration, leading to infection.
Firstly, collect and save all pieces of the broken or chipped tooth, if possible. Rinse your mouth with warm water and apply gauze to any bleeding area. It’s important to seek immediate dental attention. The dentist will evaluate the extent of the break and propose suitable treatment options, including bonding, a crown, or a root canal in severe cases.
Treat Lost Fillings or Crowns Promptly to Restore Tooth Protection
When a filling or a crown falls out, the affected tooth becomes vulnerable to further deterioration and potential pain. Fillings and crowns protect the tooth from damage and decay, so they expose the tooth’s vulnerable parts when they’re lost.
As a temporary measure, dental cement from a pharmacy can be used to fill a cavity left by a lost filling. Keeping the area clean and avoiding hard and sticky foods can also help avoid further damage until you can see your dentist.
Mastering Dental Emergencies with Us
Knowing how to act during a dental emergency is priceless. Along with our specialty in dental implants, GPS dental implants meet your urgent needs. This is critical to keeping your dental health intact and preventing the need for more intensive treatments later on.
Don’t let the uncertainty of a possible dental emergency cloud your judgment. Let us guide you in identifying your dental disaster and offer choices that can make a real difference. Free your mind from worry—contact us today.