Have you ever experienced a knocked-out tooth during a sports activity? Or have you ever experienced as a parent when your child suddenly wakes you up complaining about excruciating tooth pain in the middle of the night? These scenarios are unexpected and can’t wait for a scheduled appointment with a dentist.
Emergency dentistry is a type of dental concern that deals with undelayed care for urgent oral health issues.
Patients experiencing severe pain, infections, bleeding, or trauma are considered to be in emergency dental situations and need to be attended to at once.
In emergency dentistry, the professionals diagnose and cure serious dental problems in a manner that is prompt, efficient, and compassionate. Being prompt in administering the treatment should result in relieved pain, at most preservation of the teeth, and avoidance of worse complications for the patient.
Common Types of Dental Emergencies
Severe Toothache. Persistent sharp pain in the tooth is unbearable and may signify not just an ordinary toothache. A tooth decay that reaches the nerve, fractured teeth, a dental abscess, or gum infection may even accompany fever or swelling which should be immediately subjected to emergency dentistry.
Chipped or Broken Tooth. A broken tooth may expose nerves leading to pain and infection and in this case, it is more than just a cosmetic concern any more. Immediate treatment can save you from more severe complications and losing your tooth.
Knocked-Out Tooth. It’s so frustrating when a permanent tooth is knocked out. Keep in mind that the first 30 minutes to an hour is very crucial to allow reinserting and saving the tooth.
Loose or Dislodged Tooth. Trauma may cause a tooth to be partially dislodged and to prevent tooth loss, the emergency dentist will have to stabilise it and eventually preserve it.
Missing Dental Filling or Crown. A lost dental filling or crown should be immediately changed to a new one to address its vulnerability to damage or sensitivity.
Infection or Abscess. The pus-filled infection will cause intense pain, also swelling, and fever; if not addressed at once, the other parts of the body may be affected which may become life-threatening.
Injuries on Soft Tissue. Wounds that come out on the tongue, lips, gums, or cheeks should be treated without delay to cut off bleeding and further infection prevented.
Bleeding Gums. Brushing or flossing too hard may cause bleeding, however, if this gum bleeding is continuous or spontaneous, a more serious gum disease may be present and needs urgent treatment.
Jaw Pain or Injury. An unexplained jaw pain may be an indication of a fracture or dislocation that needs immediate attention.
What to Do in a Dental Emergency
Severe Toothache. Warm water rinsing of your mouth will help, and apply a cold compress to the cheek to lessen the swelling. Better also if you can remove trapped food with dental floss. An over-the-counter pain reliever can reduce discomfort.
Knocked-Out Tooth. Avoid holding the tooth by the root, hold it by the crown and rinse it gently. Try to reinsert it in the socket, but if this is not possible, place it in milk or saliva and seek dental care at once.
Cracked or Broken Tooth. Save the broken pieces and rinse your mouth with warm water. Apply a cold compress on the swelling and avoid chewing on the affected tooth.
Abscess or Swelling. Warm salt water rinsing should be done several times a day and take over-the-counter reliever to ease the pain and inflammation. However, do not try to drain the abscess, the emergency dentist will have to do it for you.
Soft Tissue Injury. Wash the part gently with water and apply pressure with gauze to stop the bloody discharge. After 10 to 15 minutes the bleeding should stop, else seek emergency dental treatment. A cold compress may also reduce swelling.
How Emergency Dentists Treat Urgent Cases
Triage and Evaluation. The professionals who will attend to you will ask about your symptoms, medical history, and the cause of the pain. To further assess internal damage, an X-ray may be done by an Adawn emergency dentist.
Pain Management. The emergency dentist will assist you by giving you local anaesthesia, pain reliever prescriptions, or draining abscesses where the pain is expected to subside.
Quick Intervention. The urgent intervention may be composed of the reinsertion of a tooth, temporary filling, tooth extraction, antibiotic prescription, provision of temporary crowns, or other imperative treatment to the emergency issue.
Next Visit. A follow-up may be needed to ensure the efficiency of the treatment, especially in cases of a root canal, crown placement, or cosmetic restoration.
Where to Go for Emergency Dental Care
Your Regular Dentist. Call your regular dentist first because he may have reserved schedules for emergency cases.
After-Hours Emergency Clinics. There are, however, dedicated emergency dental clinics that can address your concerns even during the night, on weekends, or on public holidays.
Hospital Emergency Rooms. On the other hand, hospital emergency rooms can attend to your facial trauma, severe swelling, or signs of systemic infection like fever and difficulty breathing. Well, most hospitals don’t have dentists on staff but they can provide critical care and may refer you to a dental specialist.
Tips to Prevent Dental Emergencies
Keeping your teeth and gums healthy by brushing and flossing with mouthwash is still the best practice to minimise the risk of oral emergencies.
Also, a balanced diet and limitation on sugary foods and drinks will keep your teeth healthy. A regular dental visit will help you address any dental issues earlier before they become emergency cases.
Meanwhile, if you are a contact sports player, it is better to wear a custom-fitted mouthguard to protect yourself. And never use your teeth to bite on hard objects and non-food items.
Final Thoughts
Yes, dental emergencies can be frightening, but knowing where to go and what to do can help you in your manageable recovery.
Emergency dentistry will help you preserve your natural teeth and relieve your pain in the most unexpected situations.
Since you are now aware of the emergency situations, act quickly and save your dental health from more severe complications. Waiting can worsen the condition, and increase the treatment complexity and the cost.
