Emergency dental situations necessitate immediate action to avert potential complications. If you suffer from injuries to your gums or teeth, it’s crucial to immediately contact your dentist or visit the emergency department for treatment.
What does a dental emergency entail?
A dental emergency is any dental condition that requires immediate action. However, not every dental problem qualifies as emergency. If you have unstoppable bleeding, severe pain unalleviated by medications, or fractured facial bones, you require Emergency dental care.
Steps to follow in a dental emergency
If you encounter a dental emergency, immediately call your dentist for instructions. Many emergency dentists Woodbridge VA have an Emergency hotline to call outside regular business hours. If you don’t have a dentist, visit an immediate care facility or your local emergency department.
Where to seek help during a dental emergency
For typical dental Emergencies, like a fractured or lost tooth, your Best Dentist In Woodbridge VA will usually provide treatment in their clinic. For severe injuries, such as fractured facial bones, head straight to the emergency room.
What situations qualify as a dental emergency?
Instances of dental emergencies include:
- Intense tooth pain
- Serious tooth fracture.
- Lost tooth.
- Dislodged (partially ejected) tooth.
- Dental abscess (facial and jaw swelling).
- Broken or lost dental restoration.
- Serious soft tissue injury (like a severe cut or burst lip).
Below are some suggestions on how to handle these dental emergencies until you can see your dentist:
Intense tooth pain
Start by thoroughly rinsing your mouth with warm water. Use dental floss to remove any trapped food. If swelling occurs, apply a cold compress to your mouth or cheek’s exterior. Utilize over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen, naproxen, or ibuprofen. Visit your dentist Woodbridge VA as soon as you can.
Serious tooth fracture
Preserve and rinse any broken tooth pieces. Rinse your mouth with warm water. If there’s bleeding, apply a gauze piece to the area for approximately 10 minutes or until the bleeding halts. Apply a cold compress to your mouth, cheek, or lip near the broken/chipped tooth to ease pain and reduce any swelling. See your dentist as soon as possible.
Lost tooth
Find the tooth, handle it by the crown (the part that’s typically visible above your gums), and rinse the tooth root with water. Don’t scrub it or remove any attached tissue fragments. If feasible, try to put your tooth back in its socket, ensuring it faces the right way. Never force it into position. If it’s not possible to reinsert your tooth in its socket, put your tooth in a small container of milk (or a cup of water with a pinch of table salt, if milk isn’t available) or a product containing cell growth medium, such as Save-a-Tooth®. In all cases, see your dentist as soon as possible. A knocked-out tooth has the highest chance of being saved when it’s returned to its socket within one hour.
Dislodged (partially ejected) tooth
See your emergency dentist Woodbridge immediately. Until then, to alleviate pain, apply a cold compress to the exterior of your mouth or cheek in the affected area. If necessary, take an over-the-counter pain reliever like acetaminophen, naproxen, or ibuprofen.
Dental abscess
Abscesses are inflamed areas or pimple-like infections that occur around a tooth’s root or in the space between your teeth and gums. An abscess is a grave condition that can harm surrounding teeth and tissue. If untreated, the infection could cause facial or jaw swelling, or possibly spread to other body parts. If you have a dental abscess, see your dentist as soon as possible. Meanwhile, to alleviate pain and draw the pus towards the surface, try rinsing your mouth with a mild salt-water solution (1/2 teaspoon of table salt in 8 ounces of water) several times a day.
Broken or lost dental restoration
Sometimes, old dental restorations can fall out or become dislodged. If you have a broken or missing filling, put a piece of sugarless gum into the cavity (sugar-filled gum will cause pain) or use over-the-counter dental cement. Visit your dentist as soon as possible.
If you have a broken dental crown or bridge, schedule an appointment to see your dentist as soon as possible and bring the restoration with you. If possible, put your restoration back in place, coating the inner surface with over-the-counter dental cement, toothpaste, or denture adhesive to help hold the restoration in place. Don’t use a “super glue”!
Serious soft tissue injury
Injuries to the soft tissues, including your tongue, cheeks, gums, and lips, can cause bleeding. To control the bleeding, follow these steps:
Rinse your mouth with a mild salt-water solution.
Apply pressure to the bleeding site using a moistened piece of gauze or a tea bag containing caffeine. Hold in place for 15 to 20 minutes. (Tea contains tannic acid, which helps constrict blood vessels and slow bleeding.)
To control bleeding and alleviate pain, hold a cold compress to your mouth or cheek in the affected area for five to 10 minutes.
If the bleeding doesn’t stop, see your dentist immediately or visit a hospital emergency room. Continue to apply pressure on the bleeding site with the gauze until your dentist can see you.
Unsure if what you’re experiencing is a dental emergency? Here’s what to do:
Certain situations don’t qualify as dental emergencies. In other words, you should still see your dentist as soon as possible, but it’s okay to wait for a regular appointment during business hours. Examples of non-Emergency issues include:
Mild or dull toothache.
- Minor chip or crack in a tooth.
- Broken braces.
- Object stuck between your teeth.
- Minor soft tissue injury (like a small cut or sore).
Remember, though, if you experience severe bleeding or pain, seek immediate dental or healthcare assistance.
Here’s how you can handle symptoms until your dentist’s appointment:
Dull toothache: Rinse your mouth with warm water. Floss your teeth to check for any lodged items. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever, like acetaminophen, naproxen, or ibuprofen. Never place aspirin directly on your gums as it will burn your tissue. Schedule an appointment with your dentist.
Minor tooth chip or crack: If your tooth has a chip or crack that isn’t causing pain, you can wait until your dentist can see you. But if there are any sharp edges that irritate your tongue or cheeks, cover the area with orthodontic wax. (Orthodontic wax can be purchased in the oral health aisle at most pharmacies.)
Broken braces: Unless you’re bleeding from your mouth, broken braces aren’t typically a dental emergency. If you have a broken wire poking your cheek or tongue, gently bend the wire’s end using a pencil eraser or other blunt object. Then cover the wire with orthodontic wax until you can see your dentist or orthodontist.
Object stuck between teeth: If something is lodged between your teeth, try gently removing it using dental floss or an interproximal brush. Never attempt to remove an object using sharp instruments.
Minor soft tissue injury: Rinse your mouth with a saltwater solution or antibacterial mouthwash. Apply pressure to the affected area using a piece of clean cotton gauze. The bleeding should stop within 15 to 20 minutes. If you still have severe bleeding after that, seek immediate care.
