How to Handle Dental Emergencies

02 December 2014

How to Handle Dental Emergencies

A situation like an injury to the teeth or gums can easily turn into a serious problem that shouldn’t be ignored. Consult your dentist right away for any dental emergency. If you don’t have it checked by your dentist soon, you’ll run the risk of infection, permanent damage, or a very expensive and complicated dental treatment. Some emergencies may also occur outside the operating hours of your favourite dentist’s clinic. Usually, dentists will still be able to accommodate you especially if you state it as an emergency. The Smile Studios is one of the dentists in Heston providing emergency dental care.

The Smile Studios also has an emergency dentist in Richmond available.

Here’s a list of dental problems that require urgent attention.

• Cracked or fractured teeth

A cracked or fractured tooth poses a serious problem that requires emergency dental care. That’s because cracked or fractured teeth means the damage is present both inside and outside the teeth. In some cases, fractures are so extreme that the teeth affected cannot be saved. Your dentist will require you to have an x-ray to clearly assess the condition of your tooth. If the pulp (the soft inside tissue) isn’t damaged, you will only need a crown. If the pulp is damaged, you may need a root canal.

• Knocked-out tooth

If you have a tooth that’s suddenly been knocked-out, it’s important to see your dentist right away, preferably within the same day. If you do, you’ll have better chances of saving that tooth by having it reinserted by your dentist. The longer you wait before having the tooth re-implanted, the lesser your chances are of preserving that tooth in its good condition that’s viable enough to be reinserted. Before going to the dentist, here’s what you should do:

1. Pick up the knocked-out tooth by the top (crown) and avoid touching the bottom (root).
2. Place a clean bowl under the faucet and rinse the tooth very gently to clean it. The bowl keeps the tooth from accidentally going down the drain. Do not scrub or remove any tissue attached to the tooth.
3. Gently place the tooth back into the socket if you can. Use clean fingers and apply with a light pressure. Do not try to force it. Bite down gently to hold it in place. If you can’t place the tooth back into the socket, put it in a small sterilised, container, or in a cup of milk. The latter is recommended.
4. Get to your dentist as soon as you can.

• Loose or misaligned tooth

Like in a knocked-out tooth, before getting to your dentist you should try to gently put the tooth back into place. Use clean fingers and a very light pressure. Do not try to force it. Bite down gently to hold it in place. To keep your tooth stabilised, your dentist may splint the loose tooth to adjacent teeth.

• Tissue injury and facial pain

Any injury you have sustained inside your mouth such as lacerations, puncture wounds, and tears to the cheeks, lips, mouth, and tongue are called tissue injuries. These require immediate dental treatment. If you get any tissue injury, clean the affected area with warm water immediately and before heading to your dentist.

Do not take painkillers like aspirin or ibuprofen for any dental emergency you might have. Aspirin and ibuprofen are anticoagulants, which may cause excessive bleeding.