Common Dental Emergencies and How to Approach Them

When you accidentally get a cut in some parts of your body, like your hands, you go to the emergency room for treatment. But what do you do after your tooth chip in case you bite something hard? Many would go to the emergency room instead of the dentist’s office. You should be able to differentiate the types of emergencies that require you to visit an emergency room. And those that need you to see an emergency dentist near you. A dental emergency is an unexpected gum or a tooth injury. You should take care of it before it becomes serious damage that may be expensive in later treatment. Visit your dentist immediately after the accident for treatment. Here are some of the common dental emergencies and how to handle them.

What are the Common Dental Emergencies?

Some of the emergencies include:

Chipped Teeth

When you bite hard, things like pencils can lead to cracks or chips in your teeth—also an accident or using your teeth for other activities other than chewing. Likewise, if you experience teeth clenching, you’re more prone to cracking or chipping your teeth.

Toothache

Toothaches can be a result of different dental problems. The cause should be known immediately to take care of it. Pulp infection and food particles stuck between your teeth are the two main causes of tooth pain. When the pain exceeds, visit a dentist near you for treatment.

Knocked out or Loose Teeth

Any injury that leads to loose teeth or your teeth falling out requires dental emergency care immediately. First, try to keep the loose tooth in the socket to prevent it from falling. Then, in case the tooth falls out, trace it and rinse it. Our emergency dentistry in Tampa, FL, will help fix your loose or knocked-out teeth.

Soft Tissue Injury

Gums, lips, and lips make the soft tissues of the mouth. If the tissues are damaged, call our dental office in Tampa, FL, for instructions on what to do. Some of these injuries may need an emergency dentist. Others require an emergency room visit. You should use warm water to rinse some injuries like punctures before applying pressure to cease bleeding.

Missing or Loose Dental Restoration

Although temporary restorations may become loose, it’s not as common as permanent restoration being loose. They both require dental care when either becomes loose. You’ll need to bring the permanent restoration if it is loose. For temporary restoration, you can use Vaseline to maintain it in place, followed by a visit to the dentist.

Guidelines on How to Handle Dental Emergencies

Dr. Alka Tiwary will advise you on how to handle dental emergencies step by step.

Toothaches

• Use lukewarm water to rinse your mouth thoroughly
• To get rid of any food particles in the teeth, floss your mouth
• Use a cold compress on the cheek in case of external swelling
• Avoid making any painkiller to get into contact with the gums near the tooth that aches. The painkiller burns the gum tissues.
• See your dentist as soon as possible

Chipped or Broken Teeth

• Collect the broken piece and save it
• Wash your mouth and rinse the piece with warm water
• If you’re bleeding, use a small gauze piece to cold press the area until the bleeding is over
• Visit Tampa clinic for the tooth restoration

Lost Crown

• Keep the crown safe if it falls off until you visit the dentist
• Apply clove oil to reduce sensitivity in case of toothache
• You can try putting the crown back over the tooth
• See your dentist as soon as possible

Broken Braces

• In case of brace wire sticking out of the bracket, try putting it back using the eraser part of a pencil.
• If that’s impossible, cover its end with a small cotton ball or orthodontic wax.
• Avoid cutting the wire because you may breathe it into the lungs or swallow it.

Immediate Action after a Dental Accident

After a dental accident, taking immediate action is vital, especially if one is oozing blood. First, attend to the problem immediately to prevent any infections before even going to the dentist. If your teeth have fallen off, use preserving products that help keep the tooth fresh. Alternatively, try placing the tooth on the root if you don’t have the preserving products. This will help avoid shifting of the teeth. Finally, visit your dentist at Dental Arts – Westbay as fast as possible for better treatment.