Dental trauma happens quickly, and knowing how to respond can impact the outcome of your treatment. Accidents occur during sports, falls, or while eating. Emergency dentistry services are available to help you manage unexpected events. Since understanding the role of emergency care helps you make decisions, educate yourself about it.
Managing Broken or Chipped Teeth
A chipped or cracked tooth is a common injury, and it often requires immediate emergency dentistry. You might feel a sharp edge on your tongue, but sometimes the damage isn’t visible right away. When a tooth is chipped, you may feel sensitivity to hot or cold foods. If you ignore a crack, bacteria can enter the pulp, eventually leading to infection or an abscess. A cracked tooth might not hurt at first, but pain can develop as the crack worsens or the nerve becomes exposed. Emergency dentists assess the severity of the break and determine the best way to protect the tooth. Small chips can sometimes be smoothed out. Larger fractures require bonding, a crown, or other procedures to restore function.
Responding to Knocked-Out Teeth
A knocked-out tooth is a serious dental emergency, and time is crucial in saving the tooth. If this happens, act quickly to take the right steps. Handle the tooth by the crown, and do not touch the root. If possible, put the tooth back in its socket, making sure it faces the right way, and use gentle finger pressure to hold it in place. Store the tooth in milk or saliva to protect the root if it can not be reinserted.
Never use tap water for long-term storage, as this harms the root cells. Emergency dentists may reimplant the tooth, but the chance of successful reattachment drops the longer you wait. Bring the tooth to the dentist as soon as possible. A tooth pushed into or out of the bone also needs urgent care. The dentist must immediately reposition it. Sometimes, the tooth looks longer or shorter than the others, or it feels loose when you touch it.
Addressing Pain at Emergency Dentistry
A severe toothache may signal an underlying issue, and it can disrupt your ability to eat or sleep. You might try over-the-counter pain relief, but it only masks symptoms rather than treating the cause. Emergency dentistry finds the source of discomfort, and the dentist provides treatment to relieve your pain and fix the problem. If you have an abscessed tooth, you may experience throbbing pain, swelling, or fever. Sometimes cracks expose the nerve, making it uncomfortable to chew or swallow. In these cases, a dentist may offer root canal treatment, antibiotics, or other interventions. Do not wait to call.
Schedule Your Appointment Today
Dental trauma requires prompt action, and delays in treatment can lead to more complex and expensive procedures. Since you have the power to protect your oral health, recognize when to call a professional. Emergency dentists are trained to handle these situations and provide the supportive care needed to restore your smile and comfort. Make an appointment today.