Like other medical emergencies, dental emergencies do not happen immediately. However, when they do happen, it often happens when you are not ready for it. Fortunately, there are ways to prepare for dental emergencies and prevent it from becoming worse while waiting for a dentist to check the situation.
If you tend to ignore the symptoms you are feeling and suppressing it through over-the-counter medicine, you should know it is only a temporary fix. It is possible that the medication you use can make the situation worse, creating a complication that will require major operations which is expensive to get treated.
If you are having a dental emergency, don’t panic. By staying calm throughout your situation, it will reduce the possibility of further complications and tendency to overreact that can drain you emotionally even if the situation is truly minor. You should also check your insurance if it is covered by it and see what requirements they have before you avail the coverage.
Here are some of the things you need to remember when you are in certain dental emergency situations and what not to do when it happens.
For Chipped or Broken Teeth
If you accidentally chipped your teeth or it got cracked, try your best to keep the broken piece in its former location. Before doing this, clean the part where the piece came from and remove any particle or debris in them. Use warm water or a salt solution to clean it completely.
If the part is bleeding, stop it if possible with the help of a moist gauze square. Apply it gently but with firm pressure on the affected area for 10 minutes or until the bleeding recedes completely. If the bleeding continues after 20 minutes, go to your dentist immediately.
Once the affected area is cleaned and no longer bleeding, find the missing tooth piece and put it in a saltwater solution or milk. This will keep the tooth safe and ready for reattachment once you go to your dentist.
Having the tooth with you will also enable your emergency dentist to determine what kind of damage happened. They will discuss what treatment options can be done for your teeth once their assessment is complete. If the teeth fell within an hour and got it reattached within that time frame, there will be a higher chance it can be saved. If not, they will create a mold of your tooth and create a tooth crown to repair the area.
Toothaches
Severe toothaches are the most common dental emergencies people can experience. The pain levels for toothaches vary but it can tell you what dental emergency you have. If you feel pain and your gums are swollen near the affected tooth, you may have an infection. If the toothache is caused by dental caries or a certain kind of bacterial disease, the pain you are feeling won’t go away with the help of pain medication. It must be treated immediately because it may lead to further complications such as teeth demineralization where your tooth will develop lesions on its surface.
You may also experience toothaches if your gums develop abscess or your if your wisdom tooth suddenly erupted. Jaw pains or tooth pains felt during chewing can also cause toothaches. No matter which type of pain you are experiencing, they will be considered as dental emergencies and must be brought before an emergency dentist immediately.
Broken Wires/Braces
If your child or teenager has broken braces or wiring (or if you see one who has broken braces or wiring), try to remove the piece without causing any more pain to the child. Don’t force it or pull it out, especially if it becomes painful. If the wire is stuck in their cheek or gums. You may even cause further damage to the dental appliance if you do it incorrectly.
You should try covering the sharp edges of the appliance with the help of cotton and bring them to a dentist immediately.
Dislodged Crowns or Fillings
If your tooth crown or the filling became dislodged for some reason, try to put it back in the same place and use toothpaste to secure it before rushing to the dentist. Do not attempt to use glue or any adhesive to reattach the restoration back.
If the issue is your tooth filling, use sugarless gum to fill it temporarily and go to your dentist immediately.
When you do have this issue, it is also important to remember that you shouldn’t have any hot or cold food or drinks. You should also avoid chewing on the side of the mouth where the dislodged filling or crown is originally located.
Whichever dental emergency you are experiencing, it is important that you reach out to a trusted and reliable emergency dentist. These dentists are trained to handle any type of dental issue that can occur and treat it immediately. If you ignore your dental emergency, chances are your treatment will be more expensive than you expected it to be.
If you are in Warrnambool, the people at Dentist Warrnambool are great and should be considered if you have a dental emergency because they will be able to diagnose your condition and do the appropriate steps to prevent further complications from occurring. They even do free dental consultation for new clients and also provide other types of dentistry services like cosmetic dentistry and restorative dentistry.