Top 5 Most Frequent Dental Emergencies

Everybody knows that accidents happen. Knowing how to react or what to do when they happen, however, can make a huge difference. When it comes to your teeth, for example, it can mean the difference between losing and saving a tooth. If you find yourself in a situation where you have a dental emergency, you need to visit your dentist as soon as possible.

 

Common Dental Emergencies

In addition to being stressful, dental emergencies can present a problem for your oral health. Failing to address them can result in permanent damage to your teeth. Later on, you may need to undergo expensive and invasive treatment to address the problem.

 

Not all dental problems constitute an emergency. However, ignoring problems such as a toothache, chipped teeth, pain from a crown, or missing teeth might end up biting you. Pun intended. Essentially, if you are experiencing any dental problems, you need to see your dentist as soon as possible. That said, some of the most frequent dental emergencies include:

 

Cracked or Broken Tooth

If you find that you have a cracked or broken tooth, the last thing you want to do is ignore it and assume it is a minor issue. What you need to do is rinse out your mouth with warm water and place an ice pack on the side of your face where the tooth is to keep it from swelling. You will probably experience a certain level of pain, but your dentist will prescribe pain medication and either use a filling, crown, or root canal to fix the problem.


 

Knocked-Out Tooth

Instead of dwelling on the pain and discomfort of getting a tooth knocked out by the ‘huge person’ you were fighting with, you need to act fast. Call your dentist as soon as possible. He will tell you what you need to do. If you had the wherewithal to keep the tooth after the incident, keep it in a glass of milk and avoid touching the root. However, the longer it stays out of your mouth, the more difficult it will be to save it.

 

Missing or Loose Temporary Dental Crown

In case of this type of dental emergency, you need to call your dentist ASAP. Hopefully, you will catch it before you swallow it. Over time, the sensitivity in your tooth will increase. Putting some Vaseline on the affected tooth, however, is a popular temporary fix.

 

Toothache

This is, perhaps, the most common dental emergency. Many different factors can cause toothache, including teeth grinding and cavities. If you happen to experience this problem, rinse out your mouth with warm water. You also need to floss the area to determine whether any food or object is causing irritation. You should also use an ice pack to reduce the swelling. If the pain worsens, ask your dentist to recommend the right pain medication.

 

Jaw Pain

If you are experiencing any jaw pain, you need to see your dentist as soon as possible. This is especially important if, for instance, you have a broken jaw. To prevent swelling, place an ice pack on the affected side and take pain medication to deal with the pain. You will probably need to avoid solid food for a while until you get the thumbs-up from your dentist.



For more information about dental emergencies, please contact OC Lakes Dental in Irvine, California at (949) 356-7860 to schedule an appointment.