Understanding Dental Emergencies
When it comes to your oral health, it’s crucial to address any undesirable issues promptly. Tooth decay, gum disease, and other dental problems can still arise, despite your efforts to maintain proper oral hygiene. Some issues require urgent and immediate care, and it’s essential to recognize dental emergencies when they occur.
What Constitutes a Dental Emergency?
Dental emergencies can result from various situations such as:
- Eating food that is too hard
- Experiencing a fall
- Sustaining a sports-related injury
- Being involved in any type of accident
The severity and urgency of a dental emergency depend on the location of the injured tooth and the extent of the injury. Here are some common dental emergencies and appropriate responses to them:
Bitten Tongue or Lip
If you’ve bitten your tongue or lip, it can be excruciatingly painful. However, you can often manage it at home. Thoroughly clean the area with water and reduce swelling by applying a cold compress. Seek immediate care from your dentist, an emergency clinic, or an emergency room if severe or persistent bleeding occurs.
Toothache
Toothaches can range from dull and aching to sharp and extremely painful. If the pain is not severe, contact your dentist to schedule an emergency appointment for assessment and resolution. For severe and sudden pain, seek immediate care from your dentist.
Cracked Teeth
A minor tooth fracture without nerve damage can wait until normal business hours for treatment. Contact your dentist as soon as they are available. However, if the fracture is severe or accompanied by loss of normal sensation, immediate treatment by your dentist is necessary.
Broken Teeth
Similar to cracked teeth, the urgency of treatment for broken teeth depends on the severity of the break and the presence of nerve damage. If a significant portion of the tooth is missing or if you’ve lost sensation in the tooth, seek immediate treatment from your dentist or visit an emergency clinic or emergency room. For a small chip without loss of sensation, contact your dentist for an urgent appointment.
Knocked-out Teeth
Immediate treatment is crucial when a tooth has been entirely knocked out. If the tooth is clean, attempt reinsertion into its socket by biting down on a moist tea bag or gauze. If reinsertion is not possible, rinse the tooth gently to remove visible dirt, and store it in a container of milk until your arrival at the dentist. Apply a cold, wet compress over the empty socket for comfort and to control bleeding. Your dentist will assess the situation and determine the best course of action, which may involve reinsertion, handling any remaining tooth pieces or roots, and replacement or restoration.
Broken Jaw
A broken jaw always requires emergency treatment. Try contacting your dentist first, but if unavailable, go to the nearest emergency clinic as soon as possible.
Sudden and Severe Dental Pain
If you experience sudden and severe dental pain without an apparent cause, it may indicate an abscess or another dental emergency. Call Lawrenceville Dentistry immediately to schedule an emergency appointment. Use the office emergency line if necessary after normal business hours.