Steps You Can Take During Dental Emergencies

Toothaches and teeth being knocked out are very common dental emergencies. Most people will experience at least one dental emergency in their lifetime. Knowing what to do during dental emergencies can mean the difference between saving a tooth and having to pay for costly dental surgery.

What are Dental Emergencies?

How do you know whether or not you have a dental emergency? Swelling in your mouth has the potential to have the most severe consequences of all dental emergencies. Something as simple as a piece of food stuck between your teeth and gums can cause swelling. Infections, cysts, and oral cancers are just a few of the serious causes of swelling. In either case you should visit your dentist right away to have the swelling inspected.

Pain is a signal that there is a problem that requires attention. Pain medication is good for temporary relief, but you should still make an emergency appointment with your dentist. Pain, whether minor or unbearable and throbbing, may indicate that you have an infection. An infection is considered a life-threatening event because it can settle in other parts of your body and make you extremely ill.

An avulsed (knocked out) permanent tooth is one of the most common dental emergencies. It's estimated that as many as five million of these occur every year. A dentist can usually replace an avulsed tooth. However, timing is crucial because replantation (reattachment) is a limited option. The longer you wait to see a dentist the fewer chances you have to save the tooth.

Best Candidates

Anyone can find themselves having to deal with a dental emergency. Participating in contact sports is one of the most prevalent situations that a dental emergency will occur. Mouth guards are excellent protective devices, but often people who are enjoying sports for fun neglect to protect their teeth.

You can experience a dental emergency by placing your teeth in risky situations. It is possible for a tooth to become injured if you simply chew on ice or use your teeth as a tool, such as to open a package.

Treatment Methods

Treatment for dental emergencies begins with you. Until you can visit a dentist, you should take the following general precautions and actions:

• Go immediately to the hospital if you have excessive bleeding, suspect you have broken your jaw, or experience significant swelling
• Keep the area in and surrounding the tooth or teeth clean and free of debris by rinsing with warm water
• Apply cold compresses to control swelling

In all cases of emergencies, a dentist will have to examine your teeth and gums to determine what is causing the problem. The dentist will also ask you questions about the incident that led up to the emergency, as well as request information about your medical history. Armed with this information, the dentist can then determine the treatment method that is appropriate for the emergency.

Important Considerations

Dental emergencies require immediate attention from a dentist. If there is ever a question in your mind that you have a dental emergency, you should contact a dentist immediately.

Being prepared for dental emergencies is ideal. It is a good idea to discuss how your dentist handles emergencies. Is there an after-hours telephone number to call? Is the dentist willing to setup payment arrangements if you are unable to pay the entire bill during an emergency? Questions such as these are important to discuss with your dentist. If you don't have a regular dentist, find one in your local area that is prepared to handle emergencies, and keep their contact information handy.