Dental pain and emergencies can occur in any event, even during a normal routine—an unfortunate slip or trip, enjoying a meal, and biting something extremely hard or simply opening your mouth only to wake up to an excruciating pain in your teeth. Therefore, in such events, there is a need for proper knowledge regarding what step to take and where to go in order to seek quick professional help that can altogether avoid further injury and reduce the pain level.
What Qualifies as a Dental Emergency?
It’s imperative to note that not all dental problems are of utmost importance. However, there are certain issues that, if not dealt with immediately, can turn into complex situations. Some of those are:
- A Throbbing Toothache: A consistent ache in your tooth is not a good sign as it can mean an infection or a cavity.
- Dislocated or Avulsed Teeth: Timely action can help save the tooth.
- A Broken or Fractured Tooth: Such an occurrence can hurt due to nerve injury.
- Infected gum tissue: Such an infection can be serious, so extra precaution should be applied.
- The broken teeth: The crown has come off or fillings have dislocated. In such a case a tooth can be easily broken or damaged.
If in doubt, it’s best to get a dental consultation to clarify whether you have a relevant emergency or not, rather than risk your health.
First Aid Tips for Common Dental Emergencies
In the meantime, here’s what you can do to resolve the situation as best as possible and to alleviate the pain:
- For Toothaches: Gargling with warm and salty water, applying a cold pack then trying to keep the head slightly elevated will also help in alleviating the pain. Avoid putting aspirin on the tooth itself.
- For a Knocked-out tooth: The tooth is best held by the crown part; it can be washed gently and then placed back into the socket. If this is not possible, place the tooth in a glass or container filled with milk and go see a dentist right away.
- For Broken Teeth: Broken teeth should be treated as follows: gently rinse your mouth with warm water, get fresh gauze and apply it over the bleeding area, and then ice the affected area to reduce swelling.
- For Soft Tissue Injuries: X-tissue injuries may sometimes be extremely painful and disturbing to other parts of the mouth; in such a case, apply slight pressure on it using clean clothes. In case soft tissue bleeding occurs, dab it with a mild/medium antiseptic.
These quick measures can decrease pain and ensure that teeth are protected until one seeks assistance from a professional.
What to Expect During an Emergency Visit
Emergency dental appointments should be viewed as ones that will provide immediate and more preferred solutions whilst also offering pain relief. At Pearl Dental Surgery, you can expect:
- Immediate Evaluation: The process starts with a thorough examination of the tooth to know the origin of the pain.
- Pain Management: There are some techniques aimed at relieving pain, which include half fillings, pulling teeth out, and managing infections with antibiotics.
- Personalized Care Plan: Counselling on what needs to be done next to provide a permanent solution, like for example, follow-on consultation or prevention strategies.