It’s Saturday morning, and you have plans to head out for a day of shopping. Your plans are interrupted, though, by the sudden sharp pains of a toothache. Now you find yourself thrust into a dental emergency, but what should you do? Your emergency dentist in North Austin explains what steps to take to get relief from this and other types of dental emergencies as you read further.
WHAT IS A DENTAL EMERGENCY?
A dental emergency is any situation that causes an interruption in the normal function of your mouth, teeth or gums. Some of the symptoms are bleeding, extreme pain, breaks or tooth loss. Your response depends on the type of emergency you have and its level of severity.
Regardless of what type of emergency you have, though, here are the two steps you should take:
- Remain calm so you can think clearly about your next steps.
- Contact your emergency dentist to give details of what has happened.
FOR A KNOCKED-OUT TOOTH
If your tooth is knocked-out, you need immediate attention in order for it to be saved. Carefully grab the digit by the crown (the wider part) and place the tooth in its correct location. If that isn’t possible, then place it in a cup of milk until you can be seen by your dentist.
PARTIALLY DISLODGED TOOTH
To protect a tooth that has been partially knocked-out, gently bite down on the digit. If there is any swelling, you can apply ice in 10-minute intervals to the outside of your jaw.
SEVERE TOOTHACHE
A toothache can be very painful. To reduce the discomfort, you can carefully floss around the affected tooth to remove any debris, take ibuprofen for pain relief and apply ice to reduce any swelling until you can be seen by your dentist.
DENTAL ABSCESS
An abscess is one of your body’s ways of identifying infection and isolating it to prevent it from spreading throughout the rest of your mouth or body. To get temporary relief from this painful growth, you can rinse your mouth with a salt-water solution. It’s important that you contact your dentist immediately.
LOST CROWN OR FILLING
If your dental restoration has fallen out, then do the following:
- Retrieve and dry it off.
- Place a dollop of toothpaste, denture adhesive or dental wax on the fixture, and temporarily reinsert it.
CRACKED, CHIPPED OR FRACTURED TOOTH
A damaged tooth can leave you with moderate to severe pain. The first step is to rinse your mouth with warm water to remove any lingering debris or fragments. Then gently bite down on a cotton gauze to stop any bleeding.
SEVERE ORAL BLEEDING
If you have a cut to the soft tissue in your mouth that results in severe bleeding that lasts for more than 10 minutes, then you should immediately head to the local emergency room.
JAW INJURIES
A bad fall or blow to the face can result in intense jaw pain. If this happens, you should immediately head to the emergency room.
Dental emergencies never happen when you’re anticipating them, but by knowing how to respond effectively, you can get the relief you need from your dentist in North Austin. Soon, you’ll be back to leading a normal life!
About the Author
Dr. Candace Bruno earned her dental degree from Temple University School of Dentistry and then went on to further her studies through advanced training with Spear Education. Through her understanding of all aspects of the dental anatomy, she is able to take a methodical approach to diagnosing and treating oral health issues. Dr. Bruno helps patients overcome dental emergencies at her private practice, and she can be reached for more information through her website.