No emergency situation happens at a convenient time, and almost all emergencies are stressful situations. Dental emergencies are no different, but knowing how to handle a dental emergency should one arise can help you or a family member receive the proper treatment and have the best chance at full restoration. The American Dental Association recommends that everyone become familiar with what to do in a dental emergency so that the best outcomes can be achieved.
The most dreaded dental emergency is a knocked out tooth. It is extremely important to know what to do if this happens to you or a family member. Handling this type of emergency immediately is very critical. The first thing to do is to try to find the tooth. Once you find the tooth, hold it by the crown and rinse the root of the tooth in slow, running water. If it is dirty, do not try to scrub it off because you can do irreparable damage to the inner tissues of the tooth. If it is not too dirty or you have rinsed it off, try to gently place the tooth back in its socket, without using force. If it does not go back in place, simply store it in a cup of milk and seek immediate attention.
A broken tooth also needs immediate dental attention. If it is possible, find the part of the tooth that was broken off, rinse it with slow, running water, and store it in a cup of milk. There can be swelling associated with a broken tooth, if there is simply apply a cold compress to the area until you are seen by your dentist.
Any type of jaw injury or facial fracture needs immediate attention. The upper and lower jawbones hold the teeth securely in place, and when there is any type of damage in the facial bone structure, the integrity of the teeth is compromised. All jaw injuries need immediate evaluation by your dentist.
Toothaches are often not viewed as dental emergencies. However, they should be. Many people finally go visit the dentist only when a toothache has become unbearable. However, this is a costly mistake. Most toothaches are the first signal that there is an issue within the mouth. With quick attention, most of these issues can be treated and corrected in a fast and less expensive manner. However, when toothaches are allowed to continue to the point of severe pain, there is often irreversible damage and expensive treatment is necessary. If you have any type of pain in your mouth, call your dentist right away.
At Group Health Dental we are here to help patients with all of their dental emergency needs. As with all types of emergencies, dental emergencies have a better chance at being fully restored when they are addressed as quickly as possible. Dental emergencies are often scary, painful, and stressful situations for people of all ages. Group Health Dental is here to provide expert care, compassion, and pain free treatment for your dental emergency. Call us with any of your dental needs.
