5 Most Common Dental Emergencies and How to Handle Them

Dental emergencies may strike at any time you are least expecting such an event during a meal or even during a sports game or even when cleaning your teeth. The pain may be sharp, acute and even shocking. Having an idea of how to behave in such significant initial moments may mean a lot to how comfortable you will feel and the success of your treatment. It might be a knocked out tooth or a major toothache but the action you take and a visit to an emergency dentist in Keysborough will help to save your tooth.

1. Toothache or Severe Pain

One of the frequent reasons why people visit urgent care dentists is the presence of a toothache. It may be due to degeneration, decay, fractured tooth or gum problems. The pain can begin mildly but in a short period of time it may rapidly intensify particularly when an abscess is present.

What to do:

• Wipe you mouth with warm salt water.
• Floss to cleanse the food trapped.
• Do not apply pain killers on the tooth or gums, this will result in tissue damage.
• In case of swelling, use cold compress over the cheek on the outside.

Constant pain in teeth is regularly one of the common teeth issues you shouldn’t ignore because it might be the sign of having infection which can be spread without treatment. The dental appointment should always be scheduled promptly.

2. Knocked-Out Tooth

Being in a situation where a tooth is completely knocked out is a distressed scenario, which can be saved by a prompt action.

What to do:

• Use the top of the tooth or the crown and not the root.
• Should it be dirty, wash it very tenderly with milk, or with saline – never scrub it.
• Attempt to insert the tooth into its socket and hold it temporarily by light pressure.
• When that cannot be done, make it damp by placing it in milk or between the cheek and gums.

Time is of essence – visit a dentist within 30 min of time and you have the best hope of saving the tooth.

3. Broken or Chipped Tooth

A broken or chipped tooth may happen as a result of biting something hard or a result of trauma. Although minor chips might not cause any harm, the more serious breaks can expose nerves resulting in a serious pain or infection.

What to do:

• Wash your mouth with hot water.
• Keeping any pieces saved that are broken is possible.
• Use a cold compress to decrease swelling.
• Do not chew on the side which is affected before you see your dentist.

The timely treatment will allow avoiding additional injuries and recover the look and work of your tooth.

4. Lost Filling or Crown

The loss of a filling or a crown would not appear to be an emergency yet it leaves the sensitive tooth tissue exposed thus subjecting it to pain, decay or breaking.

What to do:

• Keep the crown or filling, as you can find it.
• Chewing on that side of your mouth is to be avoided.
• Dental wax or sugar-free gum can be used to cover sharp edges in the meantime.

Resort to your dental clinic as soon as possible to get it attached back or replaced. Leaving it unattended over a long period may result in more invasive procedures in future.

5. Gum or Soft Tissue Injury

Incidents of cutting, biting or cutting gums, cheeks or tongue may be bloodied but appear to look much worse.

What to do:

• Take a shower with warm salt water to wash the place.
• Pressure should be applied with a clean gauze pad or cloth and this prevents the bleeding.
• When the bleeding does not end in 10-15 minutes, go to the emergency room.

In addition, examine any loose or broken teeth as a result of the injury and they might require a professional opinion.

When to Seek Professional Help

There are dental emergencies where time of the day is of the essence. Excessive pain, inflammation, hemorrhage or some apparent injury are good indicators that immediate attention is necessary. A dentist in Keysborough is able to determine the cause of the problem and offer instant relief by offering treatment which may be fillings, root canals, reattachments, or tooth extractions.

Although the pain may be over, do not think that the problem is solved. Numerous issues related to dentistry deteriorate silently with time resulting in an increase in the cost and complexity of treatment.

Final Thoughts

Dental emergencies can be stressful and painful, but being relaxed and knowing how to respond is of great importance. It is important to have the address of your dentist in hand and be able to do something about it when something is not okay. Preventive care is still the final barrier against the sudden dental issues e.g. periodical check-ups and good oral hygiene.