What Are the Different Types of Dental Emergencies?

A dental emergency is any situation that requires prompt medical attention and should not be ignored. Generally, a dental emergency occurs when you are in pain or have damaged a tooth. Most dental emergencies can be avoided by practicing good oral hygiene habits. Here are some of the common dental emergencies we come across:

Toothaches

Toothaches are another common dental emergency. These can be caused by cavities, loose fillings, or an exposed root surface. If your toothache comes along with swelling in your face or a fever, see your dentist immediately, as these could be signs of an infection that could spread to other parts of the body.

You can treat mild-to-moderate toothaches with saltwater rinses, over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen, and warm saltwater rinses. However, if your symptoms do not go away after several days or if they worsen, you should see a dentist for an evaluation.

Broken or Chipped Teeth

When you have a broken tooth, it’s important to take the steps necessary to treat it right away. If you leave the damaged tooth untreated, it can cause you pain, lead to infection, and affect your appearance. A chipped or broken tooth should be repaired as soon as possible to prevent further damage.

Your dentist will examine your tooth to determine the cause of the damage and the best way to repair the damage. Depending on the extent of the fracture, your treatment may vary from bonding to crowns to a root canal. For severe breaks, tooth extraction may be recommended.

Knocked-out Teeth

If you’ve knocked out a tooth, follow these steps immediately:

• Find the tooth and rinse it with water only (do not scrub it at all or touch the root).
• Do not try to put the tooth back into place. This can damage the ligaments that hold your tooth in place.
• Get to the dental office right away so the dentist can assess the damage and determine the best treatment for you.

A knocked-out tooth is considered a dental emergency because time is critical for saving the tooth. The sooner you’re able to get to the office, the better your chances of saving your tooth will be.

Abscessed Tooth

An abscessed tooth is an infection that occurs deep within the tooth. Symptoms include severe pain, sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures, and a visible pimple-like bump on the gums. Some patients also experience swelling of the face and the jaw. All of this can be a sign of an abscessed tooth. Most patients go to their dentist when they have symptoms of an abscessed tooth, but some do not even realize they have one until the infection becomes severe.

Make an appointment with us today at (432) 570-7080 or email us at primarydentalclinic@gmail.com for further questions. Get in touch with our office at 4519 N Garfield St., Suite 16A, Midland, TX 79705.