You should never ignore dental pain! If you are in severe pain, it may be a dental emergency. Pain is your body telling you to pay attention. If you have tooth pain that prevents you from eating or that keeps you awake at night, contact your dentist right away. Waiting to treat dental emergencies can lead to more extensive treatments or even permanent damage.
Ten Common Dental Emergencies
1: Severe Toothache
A toothache that is severe or unrelenting may be a sign of severe tooth decay or a root canal infection. Depending on the intensity of your pain, you may be able to wait a few days for an appointment.
2: Cracked Tooth
If you have a cracked, broken, or chipped tooth, rinse your mouth out with warm water, and be sure to save any parts of the tooth you find. If there is bleeding, use something absorbent, like gauze or a paper towel to apply pressure. If the bleeding does not stop within fifteen minutes, call for an appointment right away.
3: Dislodged Tooth
If a permanent tooth becomes loose due to an accident, apply a cold compress to the outside of your lip or cheek over the loose tooth while you contact your dentist.
4:Knocked Out Tooth
If your tooth gets knocked completely out during an injury, pick the tooth up quickly by the crown (the part that shows above the gum line). Rinse the tooth with warm water but DO NOT WASH or SCRUB. Without pushing, gently place the tooth back into its socket. If you cannot keep it in your mouth, place it in a cup of milk or some water with a pinch of salt. Call your dentist right away. A knocked-out tooth can be saved if you get treatment within an hour of the accident. If your dentist is not open, head to the emergency room.
5: Dental Abscess
Pimple-like, and extremely painful, these little pockets of infected pus can be dangerous if they surround the root of a tooth. Infections can easily spread from your mouth throughout your entire body, so getting a dental abscess checked out within a few days of its appearance should be a priority.
6: Lost Restoration
Crowns and fillings are made of strong materials, but even though they’re meant to last for many years, they can break. They can also fall out because of further decay or trauma to the mouth. If you lose a restoration, rinse your mouth with warm water and avoid chewing with that part of your mouth to keep the tooth clean. Since the lost restoration was protecting your tooth, there is a higher risk of infection. It is important to call your dentist to make an appointment right away.
7: Damaged Restoration
Like a lost restoration, a damaged one should also be looked at. However, waiting a few days should be fine, as long as you keep your mouth clean to prevent infections and tooth decay.
8: Object Stuck Between Teeth
If there is something stuck between your teeth try using dental floss to gently dislodge the object. Do not use too much force, and never use sharp objects (like a toothpick or end of a flossing stick) as this can cause damage to the delicate gums or even the tooth itself. If you are unable to remove the item with floss, you may need a dental hygienist to remove it for you. If there is an object stuck on a child’s tooth, and it is something they could choke on (like a large bead) make a same-day dentist appointment or head to urgent care.
9: Oral Wounds
Wounds to the mouth typically bleed easily, and whenever blood mixes with saliva, may look like there is more blood than there should be. However, if you experience an oral wound that does not stop bleeding after fifteen minutes of direct pressure, visit your dentist, urgent care, or an emergency room right away.
10: Excessive Bleeding or Pain After Oral Surgery
Those who have had oral surgery can expect some pain and bleeding afterward. However, too much of either could be a sign of infection or another problem, so contact your dentist right away.
Know When to Seek Emergency Medical Care
Understanding when to contact your dentist is a big part of caring for your oral health, almost as important as brushing twice a day. Often it is assumed that dental care can wait until your next appointment, or whenever your dentist is open. While that is generally true, there are times when you need immediate care.
Visit an after-hours urgent care or emergency room if you have:
- Pain that feels unbearable
- High fever (a fever of 102º or higher for more than 2 days)
- Bleeding that continues after 15 minutes of applying direct pressure.
- A knocked-out tooth, you only have one hour to save it before the chances of keeping it go down.
Dental Care When You Need It
Having a dental emergency can be daunting, especially if you do not know what you need to do or who to call. Here at Country Club Dental in Flagstaff, Arizona, we know exactly how you feel. That is why we offer the best in all types of dental care, from emergencies to yearly checkups. Our dentists, Dr. Whitney and Dr. Weedman, have experience handling all sorts of dental emergencies. Contact us immediately if you ever need an urgent dental appointment.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (7/1/24). Photo by Mpho Mojapelo on Unsplash.
