What is a dental emergency?

Dental Emergencies

Many people don’t know when a dental emergency is. There are many different types of dental emergencies, and it can be hard to tell the difference between what is considered an emergency or not. For example, if you have chipped teeth that aren’t causing pain then this may not be an emergency – but if your tooth has been knocked out due to trauma then it would definitely need urgent care. It’s important to understand the differences so you can make better decisions for yourself in terms of when you should go see your dentist or how urgently they need attention. Excessive bleeding and infection can also be a dental emergency and require you to see someone as soon as you can.

It is not always easy to know when a dental emergency has occurred. It can be difficult determining if you should go to the ER or not, but oftentimes, severe pain in your teeth from trauma to your face and jaw warrants a visit to your local emergency room. There are many things that can happen during traumatic accidents that can result in more serious dental problems later on down the line.

Knocked Out Teeth

For a tooth that has been knocked out, prevent the tooth from getting dry. Rinse your mouth and make sure to not touch the root of the tooth. If you can, place the tooth back into the socket. If you are not able to, place the tooth in a glass of milk and try to see an emergency dentist as soon as you can. The earlier you are able to see a dentist, the better your chances are of saving the tooth.

Cracked and Chipped Teeth

Chipped and cracked teeth can be hard to know if it is an emergency because some chipped teeth don’t cause pain. However, in the process of waiting to see a dentist, it is important to be careful when eating to ensure that the tooth doesn’t chip more and cause more damage. However, some cracked teeth can be a tooth fracture and require emergency services to make sure that the tooth can be saved. If too much time has passed and the fracture is too severe, the tooth may not be able to be saved.

While waiting for emergency dental care, wash out your mouth with warm water and apply a cold compress to the side of the mouth that the trauma is at to decrease the swelling. Taking tylenol is okay, but do not use tooth gels to prevent the pain as it can cause damage to your gums and the surrounding areas of the tooth.

An Abscessed Tooth

An abscessed tooth is when there is pus in a portion of the tooth that can progress to an infection. It is extremely serious and necessary that you go to an emergency dental clinic or emergency department to prevent the spread of the infection to other parts of your mouth and tissues. An abscessed tooth can cause sensitivity to hot or cold foods, leaving you with consistent headaches, swelling in the mouth, and a fever. If you are experiencing what might be an abscessed tooth, call your dentist for an appointment and go to an emergency room if a dentist is not available.

Visit Your Dentist

Dental emergencies can be stressful and hard to deal with, but here are some things you can do to make sure the health of your teeth is in check and to prevent emergencies as much as you can. Visiting your dentist twice a year for a checkup and cleaning will allow your dentist to stay updated on your teeth and if there is anything that needs to be worked on before it becomes a bigger problem. Brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day will keep them clean and prevent the buildup of plaque throughout the day with eating and drinking, which will prevent further problems in the future from developing.

Finding the right dentist is extremely important and we would love to serve you here at LifeSmiles Dental Care in Richardson, Texas. Visit our website and give us a call at 972-231-4390 to schedule your first appointment with us! We can’t wait to see you soon.

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