An emergency dentist is a medical specialist who is trained to provide urgent care for oral health-related issues. However, there might be a time gap between the trauma and the moment you are able to see your dentist. In this article, we give practical advice on what to do in a dental emergency.

 

What to Do in a Dental Emergency

One of the first things you should do in a dental emergency is to find a dental office with emergency services close to you and schedule a visit. Oral health issues that are considered emergencies include:

• Oral trauma that resulted from an impact on the face, such as lacerations in the mouth, broken, dislodged, or knocked out teeth, etc.
• Cracked or chipped tooth
• Severe toothache (can signify acute infection of the tooth or the gums)
• Swelling of the gums or face in the jaw area
• Severely bleeding gums or pus coming out from the gums.
• Cysts on the gums
• Broken or lost dental restoration

If you are not able to visit an emergency dentist, you can take the following steps in cases of these various dental emergencies:

 

Knocked out Tooth

In some cases, it is possible to put a knocked-out tooth back in its socket so that it can heal with time and become stable and functional again. To improve the likelihood of this, you should preserve the tooth and bring it to the dental office. Keep in mind that you will need to arrive at the dental office within the first 30 to 60 minutes after the tooth is dislodged to have a chance of saving it. The sooner you are able to see the dentist, the higher the chances of success.

The most crucial objective is to keep the tooth alive until you see your emergency dentist. To do this, you must store the tooth appropriately and keep it moist the whole time. There are several ways to preserve the tooth:

• If the tooth is completely clean, gently put it back in its socket. Be careful not to swallow the tooth accidentally on your way to a dental office.
• Alternatively, you can keep a clean, knocked-out tooth between your gums and your cheek.
• Put the tooth in a clean container filled with saliva or milk.
• If the tooth is dirty, rinse it gently with lukewarm clean water, but do not rub it with soap, alcohol, or any type of cloth or tissue.
• Use a specially designed over-the-counter knocked-out tooth preservation kit.

 

Partially Dislodged Tooth

A partially dislodged tooth is not completely knocked out of its socket but is no longer stable. A partially dislodged tooth has a high chance of healing if you attend to it right away. If you can, gently reposition the tooth into its original position and try not to move it or press on it on the way to the dental office.

Your dentist will make sure that the roots and nerves of the tooth are intact and that it is appropriately positioned to be able to heal. In some cases, additional procedures, such as root canals or stitches, might be needed to ensure the tooth’s survival.

 

Chipped Tooth

If you are able to collect the chipped-off pieces of the tooth, bring them to the dental office. In some cases, your dentist will be able to bond them back to the tooth with resin composite and thus restore their structure and appearance.

 

Lacerations in the Mouth or Lips

If an oral trauma results in bleeding in the mouth or lips, gently clean the wounds with salt water and then try to keep bleeding in check by applying pressure to the wound. A cold compress and a painkiller pill can also help ease the swelling, bleeding, and pain.

 

Severe Toothache or Swelling in the Gums and Face

In cases of acute oral infections, rinse the mouth with lukewarm salt water and take an over-the-counter pain and anti-inflammatory medication such as Ibuprofen. You can also apply a cold compress if you have swelling. Seek medical attention immediately, as such infections can lead to abscess or tooth loss.

 

Broken or Lost Dental Restoration

If a dental restoration, such as a dental bridge or a crown, is broken or lost, it allows access to bacteria that can result in infections. On top of that, a broken restoration can have sharp ages that can damage soft tissue in the mouth. If you are able to collect the broken dental restoration, bring it to the dental office.

 

Call Baseline Dental in Case of a Dental Emergency

An experienced dentist at the Baseline Dental office is ready to attend to your oral health in case of a dental emergency. Do not hesitate to call our office as soon as possible, and we will do our best to help you preserve your oral health.