At Maple Family Dentistry, we often help patients who come in with a dental emergency that needs to be addressed right away. But what situations or conditions would be considered as a dental emergency? We go through some of the main ones in this article.
Toothaches
The first course of action when experiencing toothaches is to contact your dental office. In the meantime, you can take measures to reduce the pain, namely by taking over-the-counter pain medicine such as Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen. You can also put an icepack against the area of the sore tooth to further ease the pain.
Upon examination, your dentist will be able to assess the origin of the pain – whether it’s of an origin that’s carious, periodontal, caused by wisdom teeth, or of a non-dental origin altogether.
Knocked-out teeth
If a tooth is knocked out of place, it can be put back and restored to functioning if addressed quickly. Typically, if the situation isn’t addressed for longer than two hours, the likelihood that it can be restored properly is low.
In the situation of a knocked-out tooth, it’s advised to try to reposition the tooth in its socket, and go to a dentist right away. If you’re unable to put it back in the socket, put the tooth in a container of cold milk until you receive treatment.
This situation is among the most time-sensitive of all dental emergencies, so be sure to act very fast if you go through this experience.
Broken, cracked, or chipped tooth
There are various means of fixing a broken or chipped tooth – no matter how major the damage. A lot of times, a small chip which doesn’t cause pain may not necessarily call for emergency treatment.
Larger fractures, especially ones that affect the outer layer of the tooth (enamel) or the vital structures such as the dentin and the pulp, should be addressed right away. There is a great risk if these of cracks or fractures are untreated, as it may cause pain and lead to more damage.
Tissue damage and injuries
Damage to soft tissue is commonly in the form of lacerations, contusions, abrasions, and wounds – among others. It’s important to treat injured soft tissue, as this reduces the risks of infection and contamination.
While contacting a dental professional to have the issue treated, you can apply a clean cloth or gauze to limit bleeding. If bleeding is extensive however, it’s advised to seek immediate care.
Contact us regarding your dental emergency
Maple Family Dentistry is here to help you diagnose, treat, and contain your emergency dental situation or condition. See our emergency dentistry page for a more comprehensive list of the types of emergency dental conditions that we treat, as well as the process involved in getting in touch with us to getting treatment.
If you are unsure whether your condition requires emergency treatment, don’t hesitate to call us and ask. We are happy to guide you through what might be the best course of action in your situation, especially given that some conditions are highly time-sensitive. We look forward to speaking with you and you with the highest quality of care.