What is a dental emergency and when do you need an emergency dental care?
Dental issues are common and it is only right to consult your dentist as soon as possible when you experience discomfort, pain, or any other sign. However, it is important to know what qualifies as a dental emergency and what a standard dental issue is.
When you experience dental pain or discomfort you can contact your doctor in the business hours but a dental emergency is when you are on a vacation or away from your home, or are experiencing severe pain and bleeding in the middle of the night.
These are the circumstances when you will need an emergency dental care. To avoid life-threatening medical situations or stop the issue from escalating it is advisable that you visit your dentist or call emergency care at home immediately.
How to know if it is an emergency
Sometimes, it could be tricky to understand if it is an emergency or not. Here are certain signs you should look for to determine if it is indeed an emergency. Severe pain coupled with bleeding from your teeth can be a serious matter. Other than that, loose teeth are also considered an emergency because adults should not have loose teeth. If you have an infection and you start to notice swelling in your mouth and gum you shouldn’t wait for the right time.
Other signs of an emergency include, your mouth tasting like metal, having constant headaches and feeling extremely tired , having numbness in your teeth. An abscess or a severe infection can direct towards something very serious. Lastly, don’t take bleeding from your mouth lightly; it could point to a greater concern.
What are the most common dental emergencies?
The following are the most common type of dental emergencies and here’s how you need to take care of the problem until you reach your dentist.
1. If your tooth gets knocked out
If one or more of your teeth is knocked out during an accident, the most important thing to keep in mind is to not panic. If you carry out the aftercare activities in a composed way the dentist could be able to reinsert the tooth.
With utmost care, pick up the tooth from the crown or the top. Without touching the root, wash the tooth and try to reinsert it in the socket, if you can’t, place it in a small container full of milk this might increase the chances of saving the tooth and then rush to the hospital.
2. If your teeth is fractured or chipped
If you have a fractured tooth, clean the inside of your mouth and the tooth with warm water and apply a cold press over your check or the swollen area to prevent it from swelling further. As you may know, it can cause severe pain but it is advisable to avoid taking a painkiller or applying a numbing gel on the tooth. Needless to mention, do not wait to see your dentist.
3. If your teeth is abscessed
When a pocket of pus in your tooth has caused an infection it is a dental emergency because sometimes, it can be life-threatening. An infection arising from a tooth abscess could cause fever, constant toothache, a swollen neck, a swollen face, tender lymph nodes, a pimple like bump near the infected tooth.
Abscessed tooth is a serious issue because it can spread to your jaws, neck, and other parts of the body and that’s why it is a non-negotiable to visit your dentist as soon as you start noticing these signs. Before you reach the doctor, wash your mouth with a saltwater solution to lessen the pain and draw put the pus from inside the tooth pocket.
How to get an emergency dental care?
How to get an emergency dental care? When you are in a situation similar to the aforementioned circumstances, the first thing to do is call your dentist. It is likely that your dentist will ask you a number of questions to determine if it is an emergency.
If it really is, you will be tended to within 24 hours or depending on the severity of the issue. If it is not, you will be given an appointment most likely during the business hours.
The purpose of emergency dental care is to stop the bleeding or reduce the pain. However, it is quite likely that you will need to be in touch with your doctor for treatment and that will be during the business hours.
