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The Different Types of Dental Emergencies
Any sudden pain or injury involving your mouth or teeth will typically require emergency dental care. Specifically, this can include:
Knocked Out / Damaged Teeth
A broken or chipped tooth can usually be repaired but will require urgent dental care. The dentist may be able to repair the fracture or chip with a filling, whereas more serious breaks may need a crown or root canal.
For teeth that have been knocked out, a dentist may be able to put the tooth back in place within approximately an hour of the incident. The tooth has a better chance of taking root again within this time frame. After the two-hour mark, the chances decrease significantly, and alternative measures will have to be considered.
Toothache That Can't Be Relieved
If you experience a toothache you cannot manage with over-the-counter pain medication, first, apply ice to the area and contact your dentist as soon as possible, as this is considered a dental emergency.
Toothaches can indicate potential major dental issues, and so it is important to take them seriously.
Lost Dental Filling
If you lose a filling, it not only increases your risk of infection but also weakens your tooth. It’s important to see a dentist to have the filling replaced as soon as possible. You can protect the area until you get to the dentist by replacing the filling temporarily with a softened piece of sugarless gum.
Debris Stuck in Teeth
If you get any food or debris stuck in between your teeth and are unable to remove it yourself then you will need to contact your nearest emergency dentist to have assistance to remove it. If you cannot dislodge the object with floss, do not use a sharp object to attempt to remove it yourself as this could push it further between your teeth - or injure your gums.
Bitten Lip or Cheek
Bitting your lip or cheek can happen pretty easily but what should you do if you can't get the bleeding to stop? In the meantime, apply a clean cloth to the part of the mouth that’s bleeding and press down. Use an ice pack to reduce swelling, and contact your dentist for emergency dental care.
Infection / Dental Abscess
If you are experiencing an infection in your mouth then it may present itself as a pool of pus under the surface of the skin. This very painful condition is usually a bacterial infection that develops in the soft pulp of the tooth or the root of the tooth. They can be caused by a cavity that’s been left untreated, severe gum disease or perhaps a chipped tooth.
The symptoms associated with infection include a bad taste in your mouth, pus, swelling and fever. An abscessed tooth will usually need surgery to drain the infection and treat it properly. Treatment for dental abscesses can involve root canal surgery.