There are sometimes when going to the dentist just can’t wait. In serious cases, you need to call your dentist immediately. So what is considered a dental emergency?
A Tooth Gets Knocked Out
If you’re missing pieces of your formerly beautiful smile, don’t hesitate to give our office a call. Just because a tooth gets knocked out doesn’t mean it can’t be saved. Teeth can actually be replanted in your mouth if you take swift action. So find the tooth, keep it moist, call your doctor, and have your gorgeous smile back in a jiffy.
What to Do:
Don’t pick it up by the root. You want to touch the end that you chew with and handle it with care. Locate and retrieve the tooth as soon as possible. Rinse your tooth out with water, but nothing else, and be gentle. No soap, no scrubbing, don’t even dry the tooth or wrap it in a fabric. Put the tooth back in place—if you can. Gently try to position the tooth back into the socket until you can reach the dentist. Get to your doctor’s office as soon as possible.
Why Is It an Emergency?
Not only does a missing tooth take away from your beautiful smile, but there are health effects too. Nerves, blood vessels, tissue can all be damaged along with your tooth and cannot be repaired which is why in a best-case scenario we reattach your tooth to the root.
A Tooth Is Moved From Its Normal Positioning
Teeth can get knocked from their proper position and this isn’t an “it can wait” sort of injury.
What to Do:
You can try to delicately move the tooth back into positioning, but do not apply a lot of pressure. Gently bite down to keep the tooth in place and you may use gauze to help with pain. Do not eat anything until you have seen your dentist.
Why Is It an Emergency?
A tooth that is displaced can cause chips to your teeth or cuts to your gums. The tooth may also become loose and your natural bite may be off and unnatural. Both your gum and bone tissue needs to be examined to ensure your nerve is still functional and you can still experience sensations with the displaced tooth.
A Tooth Is Fractured
Just like breaking the bones in your body, fractures to your teeth are a big deal. When a tooth is cracked, you should rinse immediately in order to clean the wounded area. Your dentist may be able to reattach the tooth depending on the damage encountered.
What to do:
Rinse your mouth with warm water and then hold a cold compress to your cheek in order to reduce pain and swelling. Find the chipped or broken pieces as soon as possible and bring them with you to the dentist.
Why Is It an Emergency?
There is not much time for the tooth to be viable for reattachment. You should not eat anything for the risk of further damage to your teeth and gums. Damage to the tooth may be permanent if your dentist is not contacted immediately.
A Severe Toothache
For one, we don’t want you waiting in pain when there’s something we can do to help, but even further, a severe toothache can be a sign of a much more serious problem.
What to Do:
Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean out any possibly infected areas. Then gently floss between each tooth for any food or other particles that may have gotten stuck between your teeth or gums.
Why Is It an Emergency?
A severe toothache may be caused by underlying problems pertaining to your jaw, teeth, gums, tongue, sinuses, throat, ears, nose, or even your neck, which is why you need the situation examined as soon as possible.
If you or a loved one experiences any of these dental emergencies, do not hesitate to call. Waiting to contact your dentist could have long-term or even irreversible consequences. So to keep your smile beautiful, but more importantly, healthy, contact your dentist immediately.