Dental emergencies come in various forms. A dental emergency could involve an injury to the mouth like knocked-out teeth, fractured teeth or loosened and forced out of position. In dental injuries, lips, gums, and cheeks are also usually affected. A dental emergency also involves severe pain in the mouth that is not from physical injury. In any dental emergency, you should consult a dentist as soon as possible. You have a chance to save the tooth the sooner you take appropriate action.
Common types of dental emergencies
It is important for you to contact a dentist immediately if you start experiencing any of the common dentist emergencies below;
- Pulpal abscesses
- Swollen jaw
- Broken teeth
- Gum abscesses
- Inflammation around wisdom teeth
- Swelling, bleeding
- Trauma to a tooth from an accident
- Sharp pain when biting
- Loose teeth
- Severe toothache
- Numb tooth
- Worsening canker sore
These emergencies may involve severe pain due to various reasons. To know the root cause of, and deal with, the problem effectively, it is crucial that you visit a dental professional who will accurately diagnose and treat the problem.
What should I do in case of a dental emergency?
The first cause of action is to call your dentist for an appointment. Going to the dentist in the shortest amount of time possible makes a difference between losing and saving a tooth. Your next course of action depends on the type of emergency. Below are some emergencies and how you should handle them for the best outcome.
Knocked-out tooth – book an emergency appointment with your dentist. Next, you should ensure that you handle the tooth by the crown and not the root so as to not damage the cells necessary for reattachment. To remove dirt, rinse out the tooth, do not scrub. If you can, keep the clean tooth back in the socket to avoid it drying out. You can also immerse it in milk to keep it moist.
Dislocated tooth – use light finger pressure to reposition the tooth to its normal position without using a lot of force. Push the tooth down by biting down to keep it in place.
Fractured tooth – rinse out your mouth with warm water. To reduce any swelling, you should use an ice pack. To reduce the pain, you can use ibuprofen and immediately seek treatment from your dentist. They can determine how bad the damages and what you need to do to rectify it.
Moderate fractures – these include damage to the enamel and/or live tissues. Restoration with a full crown may be carried out if the live tissues are not damaged permanently. If the pulp is damaged, your doctor will undertake other treatment options to restore the tooth.
Contact Us
Arlington Dental Excellence offers an array of dental treatments to assist all patients. Your dental emergency deserves urgent treatment. Call (703) 962-4218 to speak with our team today. New patients are welcome and most insurances are accepted.
