What Is a Dental Emergency?
A dental emergency is a situation that can’t wait to be treated. It’s something urgent, like a knocked-out tooth or an intense toothache. In general, here are some important questions to ask yourself when deciding if something is a dental emergency:- Are you missing a tooth?
- Do you have loose permanent teeth?
- Are you bleeding from the mouth?
- Are you in severe pain?
- Could you have an infection?
What To Do in a Dental Emergency
Exactly what you should do in a dental emergency will depend on the specific situation, of course. Mainly, it’s important to get to the dentist as quickly as possible. Below are some common dental emergencies and what to do if they occur.Knocked-Out Tooth
If your tooth was knocked out, you should avoid touching the root. Rinse it off and try to insert it back into the pocket. If you can’t put it back, put it in milk, water, or even saliva to help protect it as you get to the dentist. Lots of times, a skilled dentist, like Dr. Leyder, can save the tooth, especially if you get to us fast enough.Unexplained Severe Toothache
Teeth sometimes twinge occasionally or get more sensitive, but if you have a severe toothache that won’t go away, you should definitely stop by Horizons Dental. Until you can see Dr. Leyder, you can try applying an ice pack or cold compress to the area, rinsing with salt water, and using over-the-counter medication to help with the pain.Chipped or Cracked Tooth
A cracked or chipped tooth opens the inside up to infection, which could need a root canal or even surgery to address. Call our office right away so we can get you in as soon as possible. Dr. Leyder can clean out the crack, repair it, and place a crown to protect your tooth from further damage.Broken Crown
If you’ve had a crown placed over a tooth and it breaks or comes off, you should see Dr. Leyder. The crown is meant to protect a tooth that has been previously injured in some way, so without the crown, your tooth is at risk of getting damaged or decaying. The treatment for a broken crown is fairly straightforward: Dr. Leyder will replace the crown, make sure there’s nothing more serious going on, and then you’ll be good to go.Abscessed Tooth
An abscessed tooth is a serious problem. See a dentist right away if you show symptoms of a tooth abscess. An abscessed tooth is a kind of infection in your tooth. It happens when a pocket of infection forms around the root of your tooth. The infection can spread and cause even worse damage. These are the signs of an abscessed tooth:- A persistent toothache.
- Swelling in the face.
- A pimple-like bump on your gums.
- Fever or chills.
- Tooth sensitivity to hot and/or cold.