What Is a Dental Emergency?

A dental checkup includes routine cleaning, X-rays, and consultations every few months. What is a dental emergency, and why it is far from routine is a concern for many people. A dental emergency is when immediate action is necessary to address severe pain, discomfort, or trauma to the mouth, which may cause bleeding and lacerations to the gums and dislodge or fracture teeth.

What is a Dental Emergency?

The following conditions necessitate emergency dental care:

• Dental trauma occurs when a tooth is knocked out of the mouth.
• Trauma that exposes the tooth’s internal nerve chamber.
• Pulpitis.
• Gum disease.
• Maxillofacial trauma.
• Exacerbation of maxillofacial inflammatory diseases.
• Stomatitis.
• Pain from a severe toothache that is not relieved by pain relievers or antibiotics.
• Teeth cracks.
• Inflammation or swelling around a new wisdom tooth.
• Trauma exposes the tooth’s internal nerve chamber.

Dentists treating a patient for an emergency situation may recommend seeking treatment at an emergency room or dental trauma center.

What Is Not a Dental Emergency?

You must ask yourself, “Can it wait, or is it an emergency?”

These situations are not emergencies. Your regular dental office can assist in correcting problems:

• Initial cosmetic procedure consultation.
• In cavities with no pain, restorative dentistry such as fillings can be performed.
• Teeth extractions that do not cause pain.
• Cleanings, x-rays, and regular checkups.
• A missing filling, crown, or bridge, and a broken tooth.
• Food stuck between teeth.
• A minor chip or crack in a tooth.

If you have a non-urgent dental emergency, you will be able to schedule an appointment with your dentist during regular office hours.

What to Do in a Dental Emergency?

First, contact your dentist. The quality of the First Aid treatment administered to you before you get to the Emergency Room can significantly influence the success of your treatment. Other care options for a dental emergency include an urgent care center or a dental clinic with no nearby emergency room in case of severe oral injuries. Patients should take the following steps in an emergency:

Gum Abscess

It would be best if you did not treat a gum abscess like a pimple. Instead, you ought to make an appointment with your dentist so that he can drain the abscess safely. Depending on the severity of the infection, it might be necessary to perform scaling and root planing, a root canal treatment, or even a tooth extraction. A gum abscess will rarely ever disappear on its own and is always an indicator of the condition of your oral health.

Toothache

Toothaches frequently result from food getting caught between teeth. Flossing can sometimes help relieve mild cases of this. If the pain does not go away, make an appointment with your emergency dentist. If you have a cavity, the dentist can repair your teeth with a filling or a crown. The earlier you act, the less invasive your treatment will be.

Loose Tooth

Gums, jawbone tissue, and many other factors support the teeth. As a result, many things can cause a tooth to loosen. It could also cause receding gums, bone loss in your jaw, or tooth loss. Getting hit in the face may also cause a tooth to become loose. The only way to determine the reason for a loose tooth is to visit the emergency dentist. The dentist will check your tooth and gum structure to ensure no underlying problems exist.

Knocked-out Tooth

It is critical that you seek emergency dental care within 30 minutes of losing a tooth. Apply pressure on the injured gum with a gauze or a clean cloth until the blood clots. Take the tooth by the crown to avoid damaging the roots, making it impossible to reinsert the tooth. Place your knocked-out tooth in a glass of milk to keep it viable while you immediately find your way to your emergency dentist.

Broken, Cracked, or Chipped Tooth

If you have a seriously broken tooth, immediately go to the emergency dentist. Rinse your mouth with warm water while you wait for your appointment and apply a cold compress to the sore spot while you wait. Avoid using aspirin or other drugs for the troubled tooth because they can affect the gum in the long run. A dentist may use veneers, crowns, or fillings to repair a broken tooth.

When Should You Call a Dentist?

You should contact a dental office if you have any of the symptoms discussed or if you are unsure whether your condition requires immediate attention. Many patients have urgent issues but do not have severe pain or other symptoms. An online consultation can usually determine the urgency of your problem and will save you an unnecessary trip.

Things to watch out for include:

• Loose teeth
• Swelling around the mouth or on the face
• A localized pain in the mouth
• Gums with knots or swelling

When in doubt — call and talk to your dental office staff. They can assist you in determining whether you have an emergency or should make a regular appointment.

When Should You Go to the Emergency Room?

You must seek treatment at an emergency room if your problem is related to blood or bone issues. This is critical to preventing the spread of potentially fatal infections, keeping your airway open for breathing, and stopping uncontrollable bleeding. Emergencies may also fall outside the scope of dentistry, and treatment by an emergency oral surgeon becomes necessary. Most hospitals have oral surgeons for patients who have oral emergencies.

Daily brushing and flossing is the first line of defense against dental problems. Wearing a mouthguard while participating in some contact sports, such as hockey and wrestling, can also help avoid oral injuries. The mouth guard keeps the jaw, mouth, and teeth in place in the event of a collision.

Dentistry at Bonnie Lake has been at the forefront of helping people treat dental emergencies. We are always on hand and ready to help you determine the best course of action in those situations. For further information, you can schedule an appointment on our website or call (253) 236-7456.