Even if you have excellent dental hygiene, you can still be at risk of a dental emergency. While some emergencies occur as a result of underlying dental issues, others develop unexpectedly. A fall, for example, can lead to the injury of a tooth. Most dental emergencies require a trip to your dentist. You want to be well informed when you find yourself having a dental emergency to know how to treat it.
Follow this guide to navigate unexpected dental problems so that you receive prompt and effective treatment should one occur.
Do I Have a Dental Emergency?
Situations that lead you to have a dental emergency fall into two categories. Some problems stem from ongoing dental problems like tooth decay or gum disease. Other emergencies can occur even when you have healthy teeth and are caused by a fall or injury. Understanding the types of emergencies is key in taking proper action to treat them.
Underlying Disease Emergencies
If you have ongoing issues with tooth decay or live with gum disease, chances are you visit your general dentist often to address your concerns. While regular checkups can help ward off major problems, sometimes, they occur even with good hygiene.
An emergency related to an existing dental problem typically presents as pain. For instance, an abscessed tooth can develop as a result of decay or gum disease. This condition results in sore, swollen gums, fever, and pain and requires immediate treatment. A toothache isn’t always an emergency, but when it causes persistent, unbearable pain, it is.
Another potential emergency occurs when your existing dental work breaks, cracks, or chips. For example, a bridge or crown can crack, move out of alignment, or even fall out unexpectedly. To avoid discomfort related to an exposed tooth, you will want to restore the work as soon as possible.
Injury-Related Emergencies
In other instances, you might call us saying you have a dental emergency because of an injury or accident. For example, you might chip or crack a tooth. This injury can occur from a fall or accident, or you might bite down on hard food and chip your tooth.
In more extreme cases, you might knock out your entire tooth. This obvious emergency requires prompt treatment to save the tooth. If you can find the tooth, you can clean it in milk, place it back in the socket if possible, and see your dentist as soon as you can. Some tooth preservation products can also help keep the tooth healthy, but you’ll need to have those on hand.
A foreign object stuck between your teeth may also be a dental emergency. In some cases, you can gently remove the object with dental floss. However, if you cannot, your dentist will have to evaluate the problem to identify the best way to safely remove the foreign object to minimize your risk of infection.
What to Do in a Dental Emergency
You can’t anticipate an emergency, but you can plan for one. Knowing what to do in an emergency can potentially save the tooth or ease your pain. Follow these tips if you find yourself experiencing unexpected pain.
- Address any immediate pain, such as bleeding or throbbing, by cleaning the site with gauze and using pressure and cold compresses.
- Call your dentist and provide specific details about your emergency.
- Preserve your chipped, cracked, or knocked out tooth so that you can bring it with you to your dentist.
- Minimize exposing your injured mouth to food or non-water drinks as you wait for your appointment.
Seek Emergency Treatment at Lovett Dental Upper Kirby
When you have a dental emergency, you require prompt treatment. So, you need a trustworthy dentist capable of providing emergency care. Follow your dentist’s guidance when treating your condition at home, and follow up with an appointment as soon as possible. Contact us by calling 713-490-8888 to schedule your appointment at Lovett Dental Upper Kirby today.