Summary:
Dental emergencies can strike when you least expect them to!
While they arise unexpectedly, you cannot ignore them. Such instances require immediate handling of the situation as it can result in severe pain alleviation.
Knowing how to handle such emergencies can minimize the pain and prevent further damage. In this blog, we take a closer look at how to handle dental emergencies via topics like:
- What Is A Dental Emergency?
- Types of Dental Emergencies You Should Know Of!
- 6 Tips to Navigate Through Dental Emergencies
- Home Remedies for Temporary Relief
So continue reading as we learn more about handling oral emergencies in the following sections.
What Is A Dental Emergency?
Simply put, a dental emergency is an oral emergency that cannot wait. Left untreated, it might seriously threaten one’s overall health.
Emergency dentistry treatments focus on providing emergency dental care. You must run to your nearest emergency dentist once you feel you’re facing a dental emergency.
An emergency dentist can treat bleeding gums, acute dental pain, and even salvage a lost or knocked-out tooth. However, you must determine whether the dental condition can be termed as a dental emergency. Not all toothaches are dental emergencies, nor is a missing dental filling.
How Frequent Are Dental Emergencies?
A recent study found that 22% of Americans experience dental emergency or acute oral discomfort that requires emergency dentist treatment at some point in their life.
You have a dental emergency if:
- You have excruciating dental pain
- You have missing teeth
- Your teeth or gums are infected
- Your gums bleed
- Your teeth are loose
- You have had some oral trauma
However, such dental emergencies are treatable and can save your life (if handled appropriately).
If you answered yes to any of the following questions, you have a dental emergency and require immediate dental care.
Types of Dental Emergencies You Should Know Of!
1. Toothaches
Cause: Toothaches can be caused by various conditions, including tooth infection, injury, or decay.
Symptoms: Persistent throbbing pain, sensitivity to heat or cold, and swelling.
Immediate Action: Rinse your mouth with warm water, floss carefully to remove debris, and use over-the-counter pain relievers as required. Contact your dentist to schedule an appointment.
2. Chipped or Broken Teeth
Cause: Biting onto complex objects, accidents, and falls can all result in chipped or broken teeth.
Symptoms: The tooth shows visible damage, may cause pain, or has sharp edges.
Immediate Action: Rinse your mouth with warm water, apply a cold compress to relieve swelling, and contact your dentist immediately.
3. Knocked-Out Tooth
Cause: Sports injuries, trauma, and accidents can all cause a knocked-out tooth.
Symptoms: An empty socket might result in bleeding.
Immediate Action: Retrieve the tooth (holding it by the crown rather than the root), carefully clean it with water, and attempt to reinstall it in the socket. If this isn’t feasible, soak the tooth in milk or saliva and schedule an appointment with your dentist soon.
4. Lost or Broken Dental Work
Cause: Dental work, such as crowns, bridges, and fillings, can be damaged or displaced.
Symptoms: Sensitivity or pain, a loose repair, and a noticeable gap.
Immediate Action:
If a restoration falls out, try to save it and contact your dentist to schedule a repair or replacement appointment with your professional for dental emergencies in Lubbock, TX.
5. Abscessed Tooth
Cause: An abscessed tooth is usually the result of untreated dental decay or infection.
Symptoms: Fever, face swelling, severe throbbing pain, and an unpleasant taste in the mouth.
Immediate Action: Contact your dentist immediately. Meanwhile, rinse your mouth with warm saltwater and use over-the-counter pain medicines as needed.
6 Tips to Navigate Through Dental Emergencies
Needless to say, dental difficulties can be quite unpleasant. Apart from getting to the emergency dentist, you can try the following ways to relieve pain and navigate such challenging situations.
Let’s learn more about it in this section:
1 Identify Dental Emergency
All dental problems are not dental emergencies. A mere toothache can wait. You do not need to run to the dentist in the middle of the night if the discomfort is manageable.
However, knocked-out teeth and gum bleeding require emergency medical treatment and are considered dental emergencies. Swelling in the facial regions, along with extreme discomfort, may be caused by infections or underlying disorders that require the attention of a dental professional.
2 Don’t Panic
Although panic is a normal reaction to an emergency, maintaining composure might help you analyze the situation. Instead of panicking, try breathing and exhaling gently to relieve stress. You may schedule an appointment with a dental facility specializing in emergency dental in Lubbock, Texas.
3 Use First-Aid Methods
It may not be feasible to schedule an appointment with an emergency dentist immediately. Try some simple first-aid techniques to minimize the bleeding or relieve the extreme pain. We suggest keeping a knocked-out tooth in milk or jar until you go to the dentist.
Using alternating heat and cold compresses can help decrease swelling and discomfort. Rinsing with salt and water can help prevent gum bleeding and infections.
4 Lessen the Risk of Dental Emergency
Adopting some safety precautions and visiting the dentist regularly can help prevent dental crises. Wearing mouthguards during sports or seeking treatment for tooth cavities and infections can also help reduce the number of dental emergencies. Following the dentist’s advice and refraining from biting hard objects can help lower the likelihood of a chipped tooth.
5 Preparation is the Key
You should be prepared for dental emergencies. Keeping first-aid supplies handy, such as antiseptic mouthwash, gauze, and bandages, might be useful in an emergency. What’s more? You should also save the phone number of an emergency dentist on fast dial.
6 Plan
Planning is the most important component of therapy. When you neglect to plan, you risk losing your teeth and significantly deteriorating your oral health. Therefore, depending on the severity of the dental emergency, it is best to visit a dental clinic or hospital.
Remember, your chosen clinic may not be prepared to treat dental trauma, jaw fractures, jaw dislocations, or soft tissue lacerations. A hospital with indoor treatment facilities can offer such essential care.
Home Remedies for Temporary Relief
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Over-the-Counter Pain Relief
For immediate pain relief, try over-the-counter drugs such as ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol). Before using any pain medicine, always consult your doctor and read the instructions on the bottle. Avoid taking aspirin since it is an anticoagulant and may exacerbate bleeding if surgery is required. Make a note of what medicine you took, how much, and when.
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Cold Compress Application
Applying a cold compress or ice pack to the affected region might help relieve discomfort and swelling. Apply the cold compress to your cheek or mouth for 10-15 minutes. This will help numb the area and offer some temporary comfort.
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Salt Water Rinse
Rinsing your mouth with a saltwater solution can help decrease irritation and cleanse the region. Mix a teaspoon of salt with warm water and thoroughly rinse your mouth. This easy solution might temporarily relieve and help avoid further dental health issues.
Conclusion
- Adopting some safety precautions and visiting the dentist regularly can help prevent dental crises.
- All dental problems are not dental emergencies. A mere toothache can wait.
- If a restoration falls out, try to save it and contact your dentist to schedule a repair or replacement appointment.
- Don’t let your emergencies worsen! Connect with our experts at Lubbock Dental Care today.