A dental emergency can be a frightening and stressful experience. While you should visit an emergency dentist in Varsity right away, there are some things you can do while you wait for medical help to relieve any immediate discomfort and lower your risk of more complications. Read more to learn about some of the most common dental emergencies and ways to handle them.
1. Dental Trauma
Dental trauma is any injury to your teeth or the surrounding area, such as the soft tissues of your lips, inner cheeks, and tongue. Injury to the mouth can happen because of a fall, a car accident, or a sports injury. This type of dental emergency happens without warning and can feel very scary. There are a few things you can do to help yourself until you can see a dentist.
Chipped, Fractured, or Cracked Tooth
If you have a fractured or cracked tooth, you will likely feel some pain, whether it be a sudden shooting pain or an intense ache. In this case, the best thing to do is take some over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen and gently bite down on clean, moist gauze to help with the pain. Usually, cracked or fractured teeth can be repaired by a dentist using a filling or crown.
Knocked-Out or Dislodged Teeth
If your tooth gets knocked-out, don’t think of it as lost for good. If you take the proper emergency action, your tooth can be replanted into your mouth. Save your tooth by:
- Picking the tooth up by its chewing surface; avoid touching the root
- Carefully rinsing the tooth with clean water. Do not use any soap, and avoid wrapping the tooth in anything
- Placing your tooth back in the socket by carefully inserting the root into the gap. Gently hold it in place and slowly bite down on it until it feels like it is in the right position
- If you are unable to keep your tooth in its socket until you can see a dentist, you can carry it in a container filled with a small amount of milk
You must seek emergency dentistry near you within a half-hour of being injured to give yourself the best chance at saving your tooth.
Fractured Jaw
If you have a severely injured jaw, you will often experience bruising, pain, and swelling in your face. While waiting for emergency dental treatment, apply an icepack wrapped in a towel to your jaw for intervals of 15 to 20 minutes each hour to reduce pain and prevent further tissue damage. Avoid eating anything or putting pressure on your jaw.
2. Tooth Abscess
A tooth abscess is caused by bacteria getting into the pulp of your tooth, causing infection and inflammation. Tooth abscesses can cause pain in your mouth, ear, jaw, and neck, as well as swelling, bad breath, and fever.
If you do not seek treatment for an abscess, it can rupture and cause further infection. Avoid biting or chewing on the affected side of the mouth and use over-the-counter pain medications until you can access dental services in Varsity.
3. Loss of Dental Appliance
If a crown or dental filling falls out, it may not feel as though it needs immediate attention. However, losing these restorations can cause changes to your bite, which can affect your dental health in the long run. Dental restorations work to keep your teeth secure and in the correct position.
If possible, save the dislodged restoration, and bring it with you to the dentist. Often, your dentist can reuse this restoration and place it back in your mouth.
Whenever you have a dental emergency, it is important to seek dental services near you. With these tips, give yourself the best chance at saving your teeth and maintaining your oral health for years to come.