Reasons to Seek Emergency Dental Care
Most of the time dental issues are not considered to be dental emergencies. Even though a tooth may be causing a lot of pain, it may or may not be reason to seek out urgent care. However, sometimes an injury to a tooth, teeth or gums can have the potential for being serious and may need emergency dental care. If it is an emergency and it is ignored there is always the risk of being permanently damaged. It can also mean it is more complex and expensive to treat later on. See below for some situations that should be considered and treated as an emergency.
Toothache
If you are encountering a toothache, contact your Dentist. Describe your symptoms and ask to be seen as quickly as possible. If needed, take over-the-counter pain reliever. Do not place the medication directly onto the aching area. If needed, apply an ice pack to further ease the pain. Avoid using a heating pad.
Chipped or Broken Tooth or Teeth
If your tooth or teeth break off, save the pieces. Rinse both your mouth and the broken pieces. Try to stop any bleeding if it occurs by applying some gauze to the area and hold it for about 10 minutes. To reduce swelling, apply a cold compress on the outside of the lip, mouth or cheek close to where the broken tooth occurred. Then see the dentist as soon as it is possible. If the chip is small, a white filling can be used to save the tooth. If rather severe, a root canal treatment may possibly be required or a crown (cap).
Tooth that Gets Knocked Out
If your tooth gets knocked out; find the tooth and hold it by the top while rinsing the root off with water. Do not remove any tissue that is still attached and if it is possible, put it back in place. Don’t force it back into the socket. If you cannot put it back in its socket put it in a small container with some milk or salt water. Get to the dentist as soon as you can. In order to have the best chance of the tooth being put back in successfully, it needs to be done in an hour.
Dealing with an Abscess
An abscess is an infection that is located in the root of a tooth or in spaces between teeth. They are a very serious condition and should be treated accordingly. If it is not treated in a timely manner, it can spread to other parts of the body so see your dentist as soon as you suspect you have an abscess or a serious infection.
Losing a Filling
If your filling falls out you can place a piece of sugar free gum in the cavity temporarily. Gum that contains sugar can cause more pain. Make sure to get to the dentist as soon as you can so he can repair the tooth.
Broken Braces
If your braces break and a wire is sticking out, do not cut it off. If the wire is poking you in the cheek, gum, or tongue, try to push it into another position using an eraser. If it cannot be repositioned, cover it with orthodontic wax, a piece of gauze or a cotton ball until you can get in to the orthodontist office.
Displaced Tooth
If your tooth becomes dislodged or extruded, see your dentist as soon as you can. A cold compress can be applied to the outside of the mouth to relieve pain until you can get to the dentist office Markham. You can also take an over-the-counter pain reliever if needed.
Badly Bitten Lip or Tongue
If your lip or tongue becomes badly bitten and bleeding is present, use a clean cloth and apply pressure onto the bleeding area. If swollen, an ice pack will help bring the swelling down. Go to the Emergency Department at a Hospital if the bleeding does not stop.
Something Stuck In-Between Teeth
If something gets stuck between the teeth, gently use dental floss and carefully remove the object. Avoid using any sharp or pointy tools to remove the object; as this could potentially lead cuts on your gum. Contact your dentist if you are unable to remove the object.
