Emergencies involving the teeth or mouth can happen unexpectedly. Knowing what to do at the time of a dental emergency can help you use the little time you have to lessen the severity of the problem. You need to know who to call and the actions to take after an injury. Some situations need a fast response to help resolve them. Others may not need immediate intervention by a dental professional.
Types of Dental Emergencies and What to do
Not all dental problems are emergencies. Common types of dental emergencies are broken teeth, loss of the permanent tooth, painful toothache, and mouth injury. An injury or accident can cause your tooth to break. If this occurs, you should look for the chips or tooth fragments. Pick any fragments you can see and bring them with you when visiting our periodontist. Use warm water to clean the injured area and get a cold washcloth and place it over the site. Call our dentist immediately to schedule an emergency appointment.
Another dental emergency is the loss of permanent teeth. This can arise from injury and when it occurs, act fast. Find the tooth, if you can. Put it back into the bone socket where it was initially. Make sure you touch only the crown to prevent transferring harmful bacteria or microbes into the wound. If you are unable to place the tooth back, put it in a cup containing fresh milk. This will help preserve it. Contact our dentist immediately.
If you have a toothache, rinse your mouth with warm saltwater. Get a cold compress and place it on the cheek, especially if swelling is present. Contact our periodontist as soon as possible. If you suffer a jaw injury that distorts your jawline, let a person help you seek emergency assistance. Reach out to our periodontics team if you have a dental emergency so that you can receive treatment immediately.
