What Are Dental Emergencies? An Inside Look At What They Are and How to Handle Them

One of the things that we can all agree on is that life is uncertain. Who would have thought that the coronavirus would have brought the world to its knees? In the same breath, accidents can happen, and dental emergencies are no different.

For most people, differentiating between what a dental emergency is and what it is not is a difficult task. Do not fret; you are not alone. It is only natural for anyone to feel as though it is an emergency when you are in some pain, or you have lost a filling or a crown.

However, before you go seeking emergency dentistry in Dallas, it is best if you knew what a dental emergency is not.

So, What Isn’t a Dental Emergency?

If you are faced with any dental problem that can wait for a couple of days before you get it resolved, then it is not a dental emergency. Most of the time, situations may be less severe than you might actually think.

For example, if you have a cracked tooth, and you are not experiencing pain, or you do not have fragments in your mouth that can cause lacerations to the gums, tongue or cheeks, then there is no need for seeking emergency dentistry in Dallas, TX.

Some of the issues that are classified as non-emergencies are:

• A loose crown
• Discomfort from veneers
• Minor toothache or if your pain isn’t persistent
• Sensitive teeth
• Pain your wisdom teeth (third molars) without swelling

Having this in mind, we can delve into defining dental emergencies.

About Dental Emergencies

As a general rule of thumb, any dental issue that needs immediate attention is categorized as a dental emergency. This is to say that if you cannot wait for a day or two before the problem is resolved, then you need emergency dental care.

Since knowing what dental emergencies can be a challenge, it is best if you ask yourself the following questions:

• Are you in severe pain?
• Are you experiencing any signs of an abscess such as swelling around the face or gum, fever and foul breath?
• Is there excessive bleeding?
• Is your tooth knocked-out and there is a high probability that the tooth can be saved with immediate treatment?

If your answer is yes to any of the questions, then you need emergency dentistry near you.

So, How Do You Handle Common Dental Emergencies?

Many issues can be classified as dental emergencies. However, here are the common dental emergencies:

Tissue Injury

If you have lacerations or tear to the lips or tongue or puncture wounds, it would be best if you did the following:

• Clean the injured site with water, preferably warm water
• If your tongue is bleeding try and gently put pressure on the wound using a gauze
• If your face is swollen, use a cold icepack to aid in pain management and keep the swelling down

Knocked-out Tooth

This is a typical dental emergency that requires immediate dental care. If you can see our dentist within 30 minutes after the tooth gets knocked out, there is a high chance that we can save your tooth. However, before you get to our office, here is what you should do:

• Pick your tooth by the crown and never by the roots
• Carefully rinse the tooth to remove dirt but do not scrub so that you do not remove tissue that is attached to the roots
• If you can, try and reinsert the tooth in the socket and try to hold it in place by gently biting it down
• If reinserting it is challenging, then place the tooth in a cup of milk and present tour dentist once you arrive at the office

Cracked or Fractured Tooth

Your tooth can easily break or crack if you bite on something hard. At times, teeth can crack because of severe tooth decay. If you have a habit of grinding your teeth while sleeping, there is a high chance that you can cause them to crack or fracture.

If you have a crack, it might be possible that the damage has gone passed the enamel and has reached inside the tooth. Here’s what you should do:

• Clean your mouth with warm water
• If the crack was caused by trauma to the jaw, then use a cold compress to minimize the swelling
• Do not apply topical painkillers to the gums because your gums can burn

We Are Here for You

Emergencies are time-sensitive and need immediate attention if you are to resolve the issue. If you can identify them quickly, you can minimize the damage. However, we are a phone call away. Do not hesitate to call our dentist at All Care Dental if you need emergency dentistry in Dallas, TX.