Life is unpredictable and dental emergencies represent one of those situations that can surprise you. This is why a lot of dentists adjust their practice so that they can accommodate these cases. Emergency dentistry is the arm of the profession that deals with urgent dental care needs.
Here are a few oral health issues that may qualify as dental emergencies.
- Chipped tooth
- Dislodged tooth or teeth
- Foreign object or food dangerously or painfully lodged between teeth.
- Bitten tongue or lip
- Toothaches
- Broken or cracked teeth or tooth
- How do the experts address these cases?
Dental care experts who are trained and experienced in emergency dentistry are able to assess each case and determine the appropriate treatment option. Due to the urgency of these situations, the assessment, diagnosis and subsequent treatment are often done speedily in order to bring relief and comfort to the patient.
Chipped Tooth
A chipped tooth is often categorized as a mild dental emergency. In most cases, the dentist is able to fully restore the damaged tooth. If you have sustained a chipped tooth, your first course of action should be to rinse your mouth with warm water. You may also use a cold compress to prevent or reduce swelling.
Bitten Tongue or Lip
The tongue, jaw and lips are known as the soft tissues of the oral cavity. The severity of the damage to the soft tissues of the mouth will determine the treatment option selected by the dentist. Cold compresses help to control inflammation and bleeding especially in extreme cases. These extreme cases often require treatment in an emergency room and sutures to close the wounds.
Teeth That Have Been Cracked
Many toothaches have, at their root, a crack in the affected tooth. Many of these cracks cannot be seen with the naked eye and sometimes even X-ray machines fail to pick up this flaw. In repairing cracks in a tooth, a dentist often uses one of the following treatment methods.
• Root canal procedures
• Bonding
• Tooth extraction (Usually reserved for extreme cases)
Toothaches
This is one of the more popular dental emergencies. Severe toothaches can prove debilitating to anyone. The first thing to do when dealing with a toothache is to contact your dental care agent. Dental floss should be used to remove any unwanted material such as food residue. Pain killers should be avoided since they can potentially cause gum burns. Many persons find relief in the application of an ice pack to the section of the face associated with the pain. It is a good idea to rinse your mouth with warm water but you should not use hot compresses to relieve toothache related pain.
Dislodged Tooth or Teeth
Do not panic if you sustain a dislodged tooth or teeth. Try to find the tooth first and contact your dentist immediately. Until you get to see the dentist, rinse the affected area gently avoiding any abrasive actions.
Foreign object or food dangerously or painfully lodged between teeth.
It is not wise to use sharp or pointed implements to try to remove foreign objects from the mouth. A better alternative is to use dental floss to gently coax the object out. If your attempts fail, seek the help of your dentist.Poway Emergency Dentistry Life is unpredictable and dental emergencies represent one of those situations that can surprise you. This is why a lot of dentists adjust their practice so that they can accommodate these cases. Emergency dentistry is the arm of the profession that deals with urgent dental care needs.
Here are a few oral health issues that may qualify as dental emergencies.
- Chipped tooth
- Dislodged tooth or teeth
- Foreign object or food dangerously or painfully lodged between teeth.
- Bitten tongue or lip
- Toothaches
- Broken or cracked teeth or tooth
- How do the experts address these cases?
Dental care experts who are trained and experienced in emergency dentistry are able to assess each case and determine the appropriate treatment option. Due to the urgency of these situations, the assessment, diagnosis and subsequent treatment are often done speedily in order to bring relief and comfort to the patient.
Chipped Tooth
A chipped tooth is often categorized as a mild dental emergency. In most cases, the dentist is able to fully restore the damaged tooth. If you have sustained a chipped tooth, your first course of action should be to rinse your mouth with warm water. You may also use a cold compress to prevent or reduce swelling.
Bitten Tongue or Lip
The tongue, jaw and lips are known as the soft tissues of the oral cavity. The severity of the damage to the soft tissues of the mouth will determine the treatment option selected by the dentist. Cold compresses help to control inflammation and bleeding especially in extreme cases. These extreme cases often require treatment in an emergency room and sutures to close the wounds.
Teeth That Have Been Cracked
Many toothaches have, at their root, a crack in the affected tooth. Many of these cracks cannot be seen with the naked eye and sometimes even X-ray machines fail to pick up this flaw. In repairing cracks in a tooth, a dentist often uses one of the following treatment methods.
• Root canal procedures
• Bonding
• Tooth extraction (Usually reserved for extreme cases)
Toothaches
This is one of the more popular dental emergencies. Severe toothaches can prove debilitating to anyone. The first thing to do when dealing with a toothache is to contact your dental care agent. Dental floss should be used to remove any unwanted material such as food residue. Pain killers should be avoided since they can potentially cause gum burns. Many persons find relief in the application of an ice pack to the section of the face associated with the pain. It is a good idea to rinse your mouth with warm water but you should not use hot compresses to relieve toothache related pain.
Dislodged Tooth or Teeth
Do not panic if you sustain a dislodged tooth or teeth. Try to find the tooth first and contact your dentist immediately. Until you get to see the dentist, rinse the affected area gently avoiding any abrasive actions.
Foreign object or food dangerously or painfully lodged between teeth.
It is not wise to use sharp or pointed implements to try to remove foreign objects from the mouth. A better alternative is to use dental floss to gently coax the object out. If your attempts fail, seek the help of your dentist.
