Dental emergencies may occur at any given time when you least expect. It might be a serious toothache which will wake you up in the middle of the night, a knocked out tooth in a sporting accident or unexpected dental trauma. However, knowing exactly what to do before you seek for professional help can create the difference saving the tooth or losing it.
What is a Dental Emergency?
A dental emergency is a situation concerning your teeth or gums and that requires immediate attention. Common dental emergencies include severe toothache, knocked out teeth, broken or fractured teeth, missing fillings or crowns, abscesses and injuries to the soft tissues of your mouth. Although there are cases that might require emergency dental care, there are those that can be delayed to the regular office hours. However, when you are in unbearable pain, uncontrolled blood loss, or you have undergone considerable trauma to your mouth, you are supposed to take emergency dental care as soon as possible.
Emergency Toothache Home Remedies
In the case of an emergency involving toothache, the first thing you need to do is call your dentist to reserve an appointment. Use some warm salty water to clean your mouth gently to calm down the inflammation. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen, over-the-counter pain relievers, may also relieve the emergency of teeth pain- always take these drugs according to the directions. Never apply the aspirin directly on your gums because this can lead to tissue damage. You can use a cold compress to number the nerves if the affected area is swollen. It is necessary to avoid very hot or cold foods and beverages that could worsen the situation. In case there is a hole, never chew that side and never even think of making your own repairs using sharp objects.
What to Do with a Knocked Out Tooth
A knocked-out tooth represents one of the most time-sensitive dental emergencies. Your actions in the first few minutes can determine whether the tooth can be successfully reimplanted. Follow these critical steps:
Step 1: Handle the Tooth Correctly
- Pick up the tooth only by the crown
- Never touch or handle the root of the tooth
Step 2: Clean the Tooth
- Gently rinse the tooth with milk or saline solution if it’s dirty
- Avoid removing any attached tissue fragments
Step 3: Try to Reinsert the Tooth
- Ensure the tooth is facing the right direction
- Hold the tooth in position by biting down on a clean cloth or gauze
- Keep gentle pressure while seeking emergency care
Step 4: If You Cannot Reinsert the Tooth
- Place it in a container of cold milk or a saline solution
- As a last resort, hold the tooth between your cheek and gums
Step 5: Seek Immediate Emergency Dental Care
- see a dentist within 30 minutes
- Bring the tooth with you to the appointment
Managing Broken or Cracked Teeth
Rinse your mouth using warm water to clean in the case of broken and chipped teeth. If you can locate the lost section, keep it and go to the emergency dental clinic with it. Cover any bleeding areas with gauze until bleeding is stopped which takes about 10 minutes.
Use a cold compress on the outer section of the affected area in case there is swelling. In case the teeth have left some sharp edges, use sugarless gum to cushion your tongue and cheeks against been cut.
Managing Lost Fillings or Crowns.
If a filling is lost, make a point of keeping that part of the mouth clean and do not chew on that side. There is temporary dental cement that you can get in most drugstores that will allow you to hold out to your dentist. In case of a loss of a crown, attempt to replace the crown by pushing it back over the tooth after polishing the crown and the tooth. It can be temporarily held in place by dental cement or as little as toothpaste.
Treatment of Dental Abscesses.
Dental abscess is a severe disease and must be treated on emergent basis by a dental professional. They look like swollen painful gum bumps that may lead to fever, facial swelling and general sickness. Take in salt water a few times in a day and rinse your mouth to induce pus and painkillers. Do not ever attempt to pop or drain an abscess yourself as this causes the infection to spread.
When to Seek Emergency Dental Care
Although some of the dental complications may be postponed till the next appointment with a dentist, there are cases when an emergency dentist should attend to. Consult immediate attention should you experience:
- Uncontrolled bleeding not stopped in 15 minutes of pressure.
- Persistent pain that cannot be relieved with over-the-counter drugs.
- Infection symptoms (fever, swelling, pus).
- Accidental or pathological trauma.
- Knocked-out permanent tooth.
- Problem with breathing or swallowing.
Emergency Dentist Treatment Costs
The question many people ask is, what is the cost of an emergency dentist? The prices will differ depending on the nature of your dental emergency and the treatment needed. Emergency dental care is often more expensive than ordinary care based on the fact that it is after-hours care and the level of neediness. Nevertheless, emergencies in the field of dentistry should not be postponed because of the issue of cost since avoiding dental treatment now can result in a more serious and costly treatment in the future.
At Carrum Downs Dental Group, we appreciate that there is no schedule of dental emergencies. Our goal is to offer easy to access emergency dental services at competitive prices and offer a wide range of payment alternatives to make sure that you get the dental treatment you require when you require it.
Preparing Your Emergency Visit
Prior to visiting your emergency dental clinic, you should first take time to collect the corresponding information. Record the onset of the problem, the symptoms that you have, and the medications that you are currently on. Carry broken teeth or dental work. Where possible, make a phone call to inform the clinic that you are coming- this would enable the clinic to prepare to receive you and even offer you further first-aid instructions by phone.
Conclusion
You need to have a team you can rely on in case of dental emergency. Carrum Downs Dental Group is a dental facility providing emergency dental care, which is complete with highly qualified dental team members who recognize the importance and panic of dental emergencies. Our Carrum emergency dentist is equipped to handle different emergency cases, ranging from severe too ache to complex dental emergency situations.
We deliver effective and caring services when you need them the most. The state-of-the-art facility is equipped with the latest technology to help diagnose and treat any dental emergencies that you might have. Also, our friendly staff is committed to making your visit comfortable and enjoyable.
Don’t allow a dental emergency to get out of hand. To access good emergency dental services, call Carrum Downs Dental Group. We care about your oral health- we are here to help you overcome dental emergencies.