5 Common Dental Emergency Procedures

A dental emergency can occur at any time, despite your oral hygiene routines. When you experience an emergency, a visit to the general dentistry office is important to save you from pain and further complications.

Common dental emergency treatments

The following are common dental emergency procedures:

Knocked-out teeth

Broken or knocked-out teeth are common emergencies, often resulting from trauma to the mouth. A tooth might break and get knocked out after biting on a hard substance like ice, bone or nuts, a hard fall or an auto accident. Fortunately, it is possible to save a dislodged tooth, but the critical factor is timeliness.

If a tooth gets dislodged, rinse the tooth, holding it by the crown and not the root. Store it in milk or try to restore it to its socket if possible. Head out to the dental office immediately (within 30 minutes) for assessment. The dentist will determine if it is still possible to save the tooth. There might be damage to the bones, blood vessels and nerves due to the trauma, which may cause bleeding. The first step the dentist will take would be to stop the bleeding and pain, then try to reattach the tooth.

Dislodged dental crown or filling

A dislodged crown or filling will certainly cause some pain due to exposure to the tooth's inner layer. Patients need to avoid cold or hot food and beverages to reduce sensitivity. Before the dental appointment, they can try to restore the crown with dental cement or simply use chewing gum to protect their teeth temporarily. This case may cause severe pain and inflammation if bacteria invade the tooth. The dentist will work on restoring or replacing the filling or crown, depending on the extent of the damage.

Abscessed gums or teeth

Abscessed teeth or gums result from bacteria invasion of the dental pulp, which contains the tooth's nerves and blood vessels. The infection may spread to the root and cause pain, inflammation and foul odor. The infection may turn into an abscess, which is noticeable at the gum's surface. Sometimes, antibiotics are enough to curb the infection. However, the dentist may recommend a root canal to eliminate the cause of the abscess and drain the infection. It is important to visit the dentist immediately after noticing signs of an abscess.

Wisdom teeth issues

Wisdom teeth are the final molars to erupt, usually in the late teens or early twenties. Some people may experience a complication with these teeth, including teeth shifting and crowding. Teeth extraction is often the best way to alleviate pain and stop the teeth from wreaking havoc on existing teeth.

Severe tooth pain

If pain occurs when chewing or biting, patients may be dealing with issues like tooth decay, a cracked tooth, root exposure or infection. It is necessary to have the dentist examine the tooth as soon as possible before the condition worsens.

In conclusion

Routine visits to the general dentist can help prevent a dental emergency. When a dental emergency occurs, dental offices typically make room in their daily schedules to attend to such patients. It is important to call the dentist and provide detailed information about the situation.

Request an appointment here: https://www.mytotaldentistry.com or call McCarthy Dentistry at (740) 546-5178 for an appointment in our Marietta office.

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