When you’re dealing with a dental problem, you would usually call your dentist for an appointment. However, what if you encounter a tooth problem on a holiday, weekend, or in the middle of the night? If you’re dealing with a severe dental problem outside regular office hours, you will likely need an emergency dentist. It is crucial to discern the difference between a real emergency and a standard dental issue that can wait until morning.
Recognizing Dental Emergencies
Your dentist must be the first person you call if you have a dental emergency. Most dentists set aside time for emergency procedures. Be sure to keep your dentist’s after-hours contact information available at all times.
Knocked-Out Tooth
A knocked-out tooth is a dental emergency that requires urgent attention. If you follow this emergency steps immediately after the incident, the dentist is more likely able to reinsert and preserve the tooth:
♦ Collect the tooth by the top (crown). Do not touch the root(s) of the tooth.
♦ Rinse the tooth off to make sure that it is clean. Do not brush the tooth or take off any tissue fastened to it. Be sure to put a towel or washcloth in the sink so that the tooth does not accidentally go down the drain.
♦ Position the tooth back into the socket if you can. Hold it in place by biting it down.
♦ If you are unsuccessful in placing the tooth back in the socket, put the tooth in a small container or a cup of milk. Note that the latter is preferable.
♦ Call your dentist immediately, since getting to the dentist with your tooth is vital for preserving the knocked-out tooth. The longer the delay in re-implanting the tooth in its socket, the less chance you have of keeping the tooth.
Loose or Misaligned Tooth
You must call your dentist for an emergency appointment right away, if your tooth become loose or misaligned. Temporarily, you can attempt to set the tooth back to its correct alignment with your finger. Use light pressure. Do not force it.
You can bite down to prevent the tooth from moving. Your dentist might want to splint the tooth to the adjacent teeth to stabilize it.
Chipped, Cracked, or Fractured Teeth
If you chipped a tooth, but it does not hurt, it’s not a dental emergency. In this case, you can wait a few days to see a dentist. However, it is essential to be careful while chewing so as not to chip it more. Your dentist might be able to smooth the chip out or add some composite filling material to repair the tooth.
A cracked or fractured tooth is a severe issue constituting a dental emergency. Fractured or broken teeth usually suggest that damage has occurred to the inside of the tooth as well as to the outside. If you suffer from a broken tooth, call your dentist immediately for an emergency appointment and follow these steps:
- Clean your mouth by rinsing with warm water.
- If facial trauma caused the fracture, apply a cold compress to the area to minimize any swelling.
- Take acetaminophen (not aspirin) to alleviate pain.
- Never apply a painkiller to the gum because it can burn the gum tissue, including Orajel.
- You need an x-ray so the dentist can diagnose the condition of your tooth. If there is damage on the tooth pulp, your tooth may need a root canal. If the tissue is not damaged, the tooth might only need a crown.
Some dentists make some of their permanent crowns in-office and place them on the same day. Other dentists use an outside laboratory to develop the tooth crown. In this case, you will have to wear a temporary tooth crown while the laboratory makes a permanent one.
If the dentist cannot save your tooth, she will give you alternatives such as bridges.
Tissue Injury and Facial Pain
Any damage inside the mouth, such as lacerations and tears to the lips, cheeks, mouth, and tongue, are dental emergencies. If you experience any tissue injury, it is essential to immediately cleanse the area with warm water. If your tongue is bleeding, pull it out and put pressure on the wound using a clean cloth or gauze. You should get to an oral surgeon or nearby hospital emergency room as soon as possible.
To alleviate any facial pain associated with tissue injury, you can take acetaminophen. Do not take aspirin or ibuprofen for a dental emergency because they are anticoagulants and can cause bleeding.
What is a Dental Emergency? Part 2