Be Ready for a Dental Emergency

Dental EmergencySince you never know when a dental emergency will strike, so it is best to prepare for the worst. Imagine spending a nice Saturday morning at your child's baseball game, when your child gets hit in the face with a ball and out goes a tooth. In other cases, one may chip a tooth while eating dinner at night after most dental offices close. It is crucial to know what to do and where to turn.

Be ready for a dental emergency: Steps you can take

There are certain steps you can take when an emergency strikes, before visiting the dentist.

If someone has a toothache…

Start by brushing the teeth. Sometimes, a toothache is due to food that is high in sugar or acid coming in contact with a sensitive tooth. Brushing and flossing can help to remove the food that is causing the irritation. If that is all that is necessary, the toothache should go away within the hour.

However, if a toothache persists, it is wise to visit the dentist right away. In the meantime, ibuprofen can help minimize the discomfort. Also, avoid anything too hot or too cold and eat soft foods.

If a tooth becomes cracked or chipped…

Be sure to rinse the mouth with clean water. An individual may need to rinse the mouth several times to remove any debris. If the tooth has chipped, the individual needs to spit into cupped hands to salvage the piece of the tooth if possible. Next, take ibuprofen to dull the pain and ice the area to address any surrounding swelling prior to visiting the dentist.

If a tooth is knocked out…

If a tooth is knocked out, there is likely to be significant dental trauma to the teeth around the one that was knocked out, the gums and to the face. It is important to rinse and see if the tooth is still in the mouth. If not, try and have someone else locate the tooth. Gently rinse the tooth off, place it in a cup of milk and bring it to the dentist office. In some cases, the dentist may be able to reattach it.

To combat discomfort, take ibuprofen but not aspirin, since this can lead to excessive bleeding. Placing ice on the area for 15 minutes at a time can also help. If the area is bleeding profusely, use gauze to try and stop it. People can pick up gauze at any drug store and even some grocery stores. Continue to pack the area with gauze until the bleeding stops.

Who to call in a dental emergency

after dealing with the excessive bleeding or another urgent injury, seek an emergency dentist. Some dentists offer emergency care and keep room in the schedule to see patients at the last minute. It is wise to identify one of these dentists before an emergency occurs.

This way, if something happens, it is possible to visit the dentist immediately, rather than needing to wait a week or two for an open appointment. If the individual sustains head trauma or other injuries alongside a dental injury, it is best to seek an ER or urgent care first. While these professionals will not be able to treat the tooth, they can triage and treat all other wounds.

If the emergency is only related to the tooth, seek an emergency dentist.While these doctors are highly trained, they are not trained in how to treat a dental emergency and are likely to refer you to a dentist anyway. Keep our office number on speed dial and you will always know what to do and who to call in a dental emergency.

Related Posts

Emergency Dentist Vs. Same Day Dentist: What’s The Difference?

Dental problems can happen at any time and often require immediate help to relieve pain and avoid potential complications. If you have urgent dental concerns, you might look for an emergency dentist or a same day dentist. Knowing the difference between these dental professionals can help you choose the best option for your needs.An emergency…

How Emergency Dentistry Can Improve Your Oral Health

An emergency dentistry treatment can help correct sudden dental issues. Most dentists can even provide a permanent solution that will enable you to keep your tooth and prevent the problem from occurring again. If you want to know how emergency dentistry can help elevate your dental health, here are the details.A mild toothache may seem…

How An Emergency Dentistry Office Can Help You

An emergency dentist is a licensed dentist who focuses on treating dental emergencies, such as a chipped tooth, a loose tooth, a tooth knocked out of the socket, tooth infection, lost crown, and lost filling. This review closely examines how an emergency dentistry office can assist you.Emergency dentistry offices offer prompt treatment and specialized dental…

Go To An Emergency Dentistry To Deal With An Impacted Wisdom Tooth

An impacted wisdom tooth requires emergency dentistry treatment. This type of tooth develops underneath the gums. It typically does not erupt above the gumline because there is no room for it. Impaction causes severe, distracting pain. If you want to know why you should go to an emergency dentistry facility for impacted wisdom tooth treatment,…