Dental emergencies are painful, and sometimes, potentially serious. By definition, a dental emergency is defined by any trauma that occurs in the mouth and causes bleeding and lacerations to the gum, and to some extent even dislodges or fracture teeth. In addition, in some cases, gums and lips are often cut. During times of dental emergencies, waiting for a dental appointment is not an option. You need immediate care, for which, an urgent visit to the dentist is imperative. Most of the dentists reserve a time in their daily schedule for emergency cases. So be assured of receiving immediate palliative relief by making a visit to an emergency dentist. Remember, visiting a dentist within 30 minutes can literally make all the difference. Ensure that you waste no time and get to a dentist at the earliest.
Tips For Common Dental Emergencies
- Fractured Teeth
- Your teeth may be profoundly strong, but there always will be a possibility of them chipping. There are plenty of reasons for teeth to fracture, from chewing hard foods to developing cavities, all of these can weaken teeth, leading to fracture of teeth. When teeth are chipped, immediately see a dentist.
- Dislocation of the jaw
- Another common dental emergency is a broken jaw. Sadly, a broken jaw is one of the most common types of dental emergencies especially in North America. A few primary causes of a jaw breakdown is sports injury and accidents. When this happens, ensure that you immediately go and see a dentist. If a sufferer does not avail the right treatment at the right time, s/he may face trouble breathing.
- Knocked out tooth
- When you see a tooth is knocked out, then immediately call your dentist for an emergency appointment. By visiting a dentist instantaneously, you will have a higher chance of saving your tooth.
- Falling of crown
- Sometimes a filling or a crown may just fall out. The fallout could be the result of a beginning of new cavity or due to regular wear and tear of teeth. Regardless of the reasons, it is vital to have your filling or crown fixed as soon as possible. If you don’t get this fixed, your tooth will remain highly vulnerable to temperature sensitivity.
- Severe toothache
- If the pain of your toothache is excruciating, then schedule an emergency appointment straight away. The pain could be due to many reasons and will have varying degrees of severity. The pain could be because of an infection in the gums, exposed root surface, an abscessed tooth, or something else.
All in all, there are plenty of causes that can be categorized as dental emergencies. If there is one key advice to follow, to know whether you have a dental emergency or not, it’s that you should listen to your body.
Frequently Asked Questions: Dental Emergencies
Q1. What are the precautionary steps that I can take to avoid future dental emergency visits?
As they say, ‘precaution is always better than cure’. You can avoid some of the most common dental emergencies by employing a few basic precautionary methods. For instance, avoid chewing hard foods such as candies and ice. In addition, always wear a dental mouth guard during sports.
Q2. What precautions should I take in the time till I arrive at a dentist’s office?
Although a dentist will see you immediately, there are a few precautionary steps that you can take till the time a dentist examines you. If you have broken your teeth, for instance, then rinse the area and apply a cold compress. Or if you have lost a tooth, then rinse the tooth’s root with water and carefully hold it by the crown. Also try to put the tooth back in the socket.