Emergency dental service eliminates pain, prevents serious problems, and saves teeth. It is also essential for preserving dental appliances.
However, determining whether or not your dental issue is an emergency can be challenging. Here are some tips to help you out:
Toothache
If you have a toothache that doesn’t subside after taking a pain reliever, it is considered a dental emergency. This type of pain usually indicates a deeper problem, such as a gum infection or an abscessed tooth. If left untreated, these problems can worsen and may even spread to other parts of the body.
Tooth injuries, such as a knocked-out or broken tooth, are also considered dental emergencies. It can happen due to playing sports or accidents at home or work. If this occurs, contact your family dentist Elkridge, MD, immediately to receive emergency dental services.
An on-call dentist is a great way to deal with an unexpected dental situation when your regular dentist is closed. These dentists are available to patients at all times, including nighttime.
Broken Tooth
If you experience trauma to the mouth and have a broken tooth, contact a dental office right away. Immediately apply pressure with a clean tissue, napkin, or handkerchief to stop bleeding and retrieve any parts of the broken tooth that have fallen out. If you can place the fractured tooth back in its socket, do so. Otherwise, please put it in a cup of milk to keep the tooth viable until you reach a dental office.
A severely cracked tooth or one that breaks off completely is a dental emergency, as it exposes the inside of the tooth to irritants like saliva and bacteria and may cause pain or swelling. In case you experience a cracked tooth, you can use dental wax or a temporary tooth repair kit that can be found in drugstores to cover any jagged edges and reduce the pain until you can see an emergency dentist. If the crack in a tooth is too deep, a root canal may be necessary to save it according to the best dentist in Charlotte NC.
Knocked Out Tooth
A knocked-out tooth, also called an avulsed tooth, happens when a blow to the mouth or jaw is severe enough that a permanent tooth becomes dislodged. It is a dental emergency, and it requires immediate attention.
When this dental emergency occurs, it is vital to find the lost tooth and handle it gently by its crown (the chewing surface) and not its roots. If possible, it is best to replace the tooth in its socket. If not, put the tooth in milk or an emergency tooth preservation kit and get to your dentist as soon as possible.
It is also recommended to ice the area to reduce swelling. If necessary, take something for pain until you can get to the dentist. Knocked-out teeth seen within 30 minutes have the most excellent chance of being saved. Knocked-out baby teeth are not usually reimplanted because doing so may interfere with the development of permanent teeth in that area.
Mouth Wound
When a cut inside your mouth occurs, always seek immediate medical attention. It not only relieves pain but also prevents infection and long-term damage to teeth and gums.
Almost everyone has experienced a mouth wound at one time or another. Some of these wounds include sores, canker sores, and cold sores, as well as cuts from food or other objects.
Rinsing the area with warm water and using over-the-counter painkillers can help until you can get to an emergency dentist. If a wound is bleeding, apply firm and continuous pressure using a clean cloth to stop the bleeding. Attempt to retrieve any parts of a broken tooth that have fallen out, and bring these with you to the dentist. They may be able to re-attach the fragments of your tooth. If not, your dentist will discuss options for replacing the tooth.
