When you’re carrying out a typical day’s duties, a sudden dental emergency can slow you down and leave you dealing with intense pain. While you’d like to avoid this happening, it’s not always within your control. Therefore, it’s best to know how to properly respond so you can lessen your discomfort, and stabilize the situation until you can visit your emergency dentist in Marion. As you continue reading, you’ll learn how to handle some of the most common types of dental trauma.
Toothaches
In most cases, a toothache is the result of oral bacteria that have penetrated beneath the enamel and dentin, and into the sensitive inner area of the tooth where the canals and nerves are housed. This can trigger intense pain that provides a warning that you need immediate care.
Until you can be seen by your emergency dentist, you can carefully floss around the pain site to make sure there is no food debris. If that doesn’t help to alleviate the discomfort, then you can take an over-the-counter (OTC) medication and apply an icepack to your face.
Chipped/Broken Teeth
A sudden blow to the face, a bad fall or attempting to bite into something that is too hard can lead to a chipped or broken tooth. To control any swelling, you can apply a cold compress to your face for around 10 minutes. If there are any jagged edges, you can cover your teeth with dental wax temporarily, and collect any broken pieces to give them to your emergency dentist when you visit.
Knocked-Out Tooth
A more extreme result of facial trauma is for a tooth to completely dislodge. This is a time-sensitive matter, as there is a one-hour window for the tooth to be successfully reattached by your emergency dentist.
One of the immediate steps you can take is to rinse the tooth under cool water and attempt to reinsert it. If you’re unsuccessful, then place the tooth in a cup of milk or water to keep the roots alive until you can be seen.
Lost Filling/Crown
In some cases, eating sticky or crunchy foods can cause a filling or crown to dislodge. If this happens, then rinse it off and attempt to reinsert it using dental wax or toothpaste. Until you can visit your emergency dentist, you should avoid any activity on that side of your mouth and take an OTC medication to quiet any pain.
What You Should Never Do
When there is a dental emergency, as best you can, you should avoid panicking. Additionally, if the initial symptoms diminish, you shouldn’t assume that the problem has been resolved. By staying as calm as possible, you can better assess the situation and make the right decisions. Then, by reaching out to your emergency dentist, you can rest assured that the issue is thoroughly taken care of and your oral health fully restored.
About the Author
A graduate of The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, Dr. Eric Buck has been practicing dentistry for nearly two decades. He provides patients with the expert treatment they need to fully recover from dental trauma at Cross Creek Dental Care, and he can be reached for more information through his website.