Dealing with dental emergencies can be painful and cause some major anxiety. With our modern technology and easy access to information, people turn to the internet for answers. If you or someone you know is experiencing a dental emergency here are some common ones and what to do.
You can call your dentist or a 24 hour emergency number to help take care of the problem in a timely manner and get some medication for the pain.
Knocked Out Permanent Tooth
If one of your adult teeth has been knocked out then this is a real dental emergency. Not only can it be painful and come with a lot of blood, but a fake tooth will need to be put in or a partial one if the tooth was broken off.
Rinse the mouth out with warm water and apply some gauze to the bleeding area. Next apply a cold compress to the part of your face that is closest to the tooth area. While you seek medical attention or dental care it is advised that you avoid biting hard on foods or eating crunchy or sticky foods. It is also best to avoid sports or activities that could break another tooth.
Cracked Tooth
A cracked tooth can come from activities such as contact sports or biting down on hard candy or other foods. They can even come from just general wear and tear. In many cases, the pain may come and go, but that does not mean that you should ignore the problem. The sooner the tooth is treated the better the outcome. Once you get it treated the tooth should continue to function normally.
Toothache
If there is swelling and bleeding accompanying a toothache, it can be classified as a dental emergency. If the pain gets too severe make sure to call your dentist and discuss options. Again, rinse your mouth with warm water and use dental floss to remove any food pieces that may be causing the toothache.
A cold compress and over the counter pain medication can help keep the pain at bay while you wait to visit the dentist.
Lost Filling Or Crown
If you notice a lost filling, the first thing you should do is schedule an appointment to get back into the dentist and have the filling fixed. Since this is a dental emergency, you may have to find a temporary solution if you can not get into the dentist right away. You can find over-the-counter dental cement that should fill the hole for the time being. This can prevent sensitivity until the cavity is refilled.
Abscess
Abscesses are infections in or around the root of a tooth or in the space between the tooth and gum. This is a very serious emergency and should be handled in a timely manner. These can permanently damage your teeth and gums and cause major pain. As soon as you spot them make an appointment with your dentist.
Bleeding After Tooth Extraction
If you have recently had your tooth extracted or your wisdom teeth removed and the bleeding has not stopped after a few hours, you may want to contact your dentist for instructions. Usually, the dentist will put gauze in the extraction site to stop the bleeding, and applying pressure should stop the bleeding after just a few hours, but if not you could lose a lot of blood.
Broken Orthodontics
If you currently have braces they can get broken or damaged if not cared for properly. If you lose a bracket or pop a wire out of place, your orthodontist will need to put it back into place so that your treatment continues to progress.
Broken wires can also cause pain and stab your mouth. Poking wires can cause bleeding or sores that can hurt your mouth. Having your orthodontist fix your orthodontic hardware will get your life back to normal.
Dental Emergencies With Northview Dental
Our offices are located in Ogden, UT and how to help your smile look fresh. Our goal is to provide you with high quality dental care so that you can have confidence in your smile. You can meet our 10 dentists on our website and learn more about what services our team offers.
Working with Northview gives you peace of mind and has great services to help keep your teeth in great shape. We have services including:
- Teeth Cleanings
- Fluoride Treatment
- Dentures & Partials
- Dental Fillings
- Sealants
- Dental Exams
- And more!
We want our patients to have all the information needed to take care of their oral health. You can check out our blog for more topics on oral health and ways to take the best care of your teeth.
