Emergency Dental Care —What to Do?

In cases of emergency dental care, you need to seek help from a professional if possible. Leaving the problem untreated can further escalate it. It requires immediate medical care. However, not every dental problem requires you to seek emergency dental care. Those that remain for extended periods and seem unusual need to be paid attention to. 

In places like Colonia, you can get access to quality dental care. You can go to a dental practice in Maryville, TN, and seek prompt care. If you remain prepared for dental emergencies, you will not panic when they come forth. Many people do not understand what constitutes a dental emergency that can lead to delayed treatments. Therefore, knowing different dental emergencies can help in effectively managing them. 

How do you respond to a dental emergency?

It would help if you stayed calm and contacted your dentist first. Make a call and tell them about the problem in detail. You can easily fetch the emergency number provided by dentists. However, if you fail to reach out to a dentist, seek care from the nearest emergency care.  

What are the common dental emergencies?

  • Knocked-out tooth:

Hold your knocked-out tooth in place, and try to hold it from its above-visible part (crown). Get some water and rinse the root. Another thing you can do is try to put the knocked-out back in its place. If not possible, put it in the milk. These are some of the things you can do on your own.

 However, you need to seek care from a dentist as soon as possible. They can only save your tooth from further damage. You need to make sure that you seek dental care within half an hour. Delaying can decrease the chances of keeping that tooth. 

  • Broken crown or fillings:

Sometimes, for various reasons, you may lose your dental restoration. For instance, if your filling goes missing, get a gum (sugar-free) and insert it in your space. It is something you can do temporarily. You need to seek proper care from a dentist as soon as you can.  

If your crown gets broken, try to put it back in place by using some dental cement or toothpaste. You need to see the dentist soon; they can fix your restoration if you seek prompt care in time. Make sure you do not use glue as an adhesive. 

  • Injury to the soft tissues:

If you get your tongue, cheeks, or lips hurt, it can result in bleeding. Gums can also get injured in accidents. If you see blood coming, rinse your mouth with warm water and put a pinch of salt if possible. If you notice swelling, use something cold on it.

 A tea bag can also be placed from where you are bleeding. A tea bag helps by shrinking blood vessels and lessening the amount of blood coming out. You need to put the tea bag at the site of bleeding for at least 15 minutes. 

  • Experiencing severe toothache:

Many times, toothache results from some food that might be stuck between your teeth. If that is the case, use a floss to get it out. In other cases, use warm water to rinse your mouth.

 If you see swelling, use the compressor (cold one) to reduce swelling around your mouth and cheeks. Pain relievers, like ibuprofen, can also be taken. Do not put the pain reliever near your gums or affected tooth. If the pain is still not manageable, seek dental care from your nearest emergency room. 

What is not considered a dental emergency?

There are various situations where you do not have to seek dental care immediately, for instance, if your toothache is mild, if your braces get broken, a small cut to the soft tissue, etc. In case your braces get damaged, you can book an appointment to have them fixed.