When it comes to your oral health, it can be tough to know what qualifies as a dental emergency. No one wants to feel like they are blowing a problem out of proportion, so they may put off receiving the immediate dental care they need to protect their dental health.
To help you pin down what oral issue may require emergency dentistry help, our dentists at Bridge Creek Dental are here to help clarify things.
Trauma To Your Teeth
One of the most common reasons that people contact us for our emergency dental services is due to teeth trauma. This dental trauma may extend to:
- Cracked or fractured teeth
- Chip in a tooth
- Separation of the crown from the tooth
- Knocked out tooth/teeth
This kind of dental trauma is unfortunately fairly common, especially if you play contact team sports such as football or hockey. It is important to have a damaged tooth checked out as soon as possible because if one tooth has become visibly damaged, there may be other, less visible damage.
Also, if your dental emergency includes a knocked out tooth, there are some critical steps you need to take if you want to save the natural tooth.
First, do not handle the root of the tooth. Only touch the crown, which is the portion which is normally visible. Touching the root of a knocked out tooth can kill the cells which can help the tooth re-root.
Next, rinse the tooth under cold water to remove any debris. Don’t scrub it, just allow the water to flow over the tooth.
If possible, place the tooth back into the socket. Should there be no way to put the tooth back into place, be sure to wrap it in gauze and place it in milk to keep it from drying out. The milk will provide the right ratio of acid-to-alkaline until you can reach our dentist for assistance.
Should it turn out that your displaced tooth is beyond saving, there are other options. Our dental services include dental replacement options such as dental implants, which can help restore your smile.
Unabated Oral Pain
In most cases, oral pain does not come on suddenly. However, many people tend to ignore the early warning signs of oral pain until it becomes a painful dental emergency. In general, oral pain signifies that there is an infection. This infection may be due to several things, such as:
- An abscessed tooth
- Periodontal disease
- Tooth pulp infection
- A failed dental implant or bridge
Often, it can be difficult for a person to do more than point out the general area where the pain is when it comes to oral pain. Our dentists can utilize various tools such as x-rays to determine where the pain is originating from and follow-up with appropriate treatment.
Ways To Prevent Dental Emergencies
While our dentists can provide emergency dentistry services, preventing a dental emergency is far better for your overall oral health and peace of mind. Some ways you can prevent dental emergencies are:
- Practice good oral hygiene – The simple things of flossing at night and brushing twice a day can go a long way toward keeping your oral health up.
- Visit our dental clinic for cleanings – When you practice good preventive dental care and come by our clinic for your biannual dental cleanings, it is far more likely that any issues can be seen to before they become an emergency.
- Have a custom mouthguard made – If you are in a sport where your teeth may be at risk, whether it is rugby or BMX biking, having a custom mouthguard made by our dentists is a good idea.
- Address dental issues early – Something as simple as a cavity can become a major issue if left alone, potentially leading to have an abscess and needing a root canal as well as the crown. If you see that there is an issue or are having some oral pain, be sure to make an appointment to deal with the problem quickly.
Whether you need emergency dental assistance or any of our other quality dental services, contact us. Our dentists are ready to help you maintain your oral health to the highest standard possible.