Maybe a fall during a friendly game of backyard football or an errant elbow during basketball practice has led to tooth trouble for you. But you’re no dental expert. How are you supposed to know if it qualifies as an emergency? And what would the dentist do anyway? Continue reading for a discussion of common dental emergencies to help you determine if you need prompt attention and what your dentist can do to solve the problem.
Knocked-Out Tooth
If you’ve had an adult tooth dislodged entirely, you need to get yourself to the dentist as soon as possible!
First, locate the tooth and handle it only by the crown, not the root. Rinse it off and gently place it back in its socket if you can. If not, keeping it moist is important, so if possible, submerge it in a small container of milk. Call your dentist and tell them you need immediate attention. In the meantime, control the bleeding by gently biting down on a piece of gauze.
Your dentist may be able to reinsert and stabilize the tooth. Time is of the essence when preserving a knocked-out tooth, so act quickly!
Tooth Fracture
While it’s not quite on par with having a whole tooth knocked out, a chipped or cracked tooth is still something to take seriously!
Tooth fractures are one of the more common dental emergencies, caused by anything from a blow to the face suffered during an accident to using your teeth as a bottle opener. If you’re able to find the piece of tooth that broke off, bring it to your dental appointment.
Treatment really varies according to how badly the affected tooth is damaged. If it’s a smaller fracture, an easy, non-invasive fix like dental bonding could patch up a minor chip. A big break may require a restoration like a dental crown, preceded by root canal therapy if the inner pulp was harmed.
Severe Pain
Severe toothaches are a big warning sign that something is wrong and should be addressed by a dentist as quickly as possible.
The most common causes of intense tooth pain are cavities and infected dentin, the yellowish tissue that makes up the bulk of all teeth. When cavities are present, the sensitive nerve endings in the tooth are exposed, while infections could cause painful abscesses accompanied by fever and swelling, which necessitate especially speedy dental care.
Root canal therapy, tooth fillings, and in severe cases, extraction are all possible recommendations your dentist may make.
Lost Fillings or Crowns
Fillings and crowns can occasionally become loose or fall out. This may happen because of normal wear, new decay around a restoration or trauma.
Save the restoration and contact your dentist. Avoid chewing on the affected side and keep the area clean. Your dentist can determine whether the restoration can be repaired or replaced.
The best response to a dental emergency is to stay calm, avoid attempting permanent repairs at home and contact your dental practice as soon as possible. Prompt professional treatment can relieve discomfort, protect your teeth and help prevent a minor dental problem from becoming more serious.
About the Author
Dr. Anthony Garcia (“Dr. G”) was raised in El Paso and is fluent in English and Spanish, taking pride in creating a welcoming environment for a diverse array of patients. He’s a graduate of the UT Health San Antonio School of Dentistry and enjoys giving back to his community as a volunteer dentist at the El Paso Baptist Clinic. If you’ve suffered a dental emergency, contact Dr. Garcia and his team at their El Paso office at (915) 990-2186 or online.