No one plans to have a dental emergency– that’s why it’s called an emergency! Whether you find yourself up at night with a serious toothache or an innocent game of basketball knocks out one of your teeth, a dental emergency can happen at any time. Fortunately, as long as you stay calm and follow a few simple steps, you can avoid a lot of unnecessary pain, time, and cost. Find out the most common dental emergencies you and your family could encounter, and how to handle them.
Severe Toothache
If tooth pain is keeping you from enjoying your favorite foods, distracting you throughout the day, or keeping you up at night, you may have a dental emergency on your hands. While toothaches can be caused by a variety of problems ranging from cavities to infections, these symptoms indicate that you need to see your dentist right away to prevent permanent damage! Until you can see them, rinse your mouth with warm salt water to kill bacteria and ease swelling, and take an over-the-counter pain reliever as instructed on the packaging. Once you see your dentist, they’ll be able to determine the cause of your toothache and the best way to treat it.
Cracked or Broken Tooth
A broken tooth can be one of the most jarring experiences when it comes to dental emergencies, but small cracks in the teeth may not cause any discomfort right away. No matter how big or small the crack or break in your tooth is, you need to see your dentist as soon as you can. Damaged enamel leaves the pulp of your tooth exposed to plaque, bacteria, and debris. If ignored, the damage will only get worse, and you’re likely to develop a dental infection. Your dental team will give you personalized instructions over the phone once you call to make an appointment, such as avoid eating anything hard or crunchy.
Knocked Out Tooth
Teeth are incredibly strong, but a wayward basketball, a sports accident, or a trip on the sidewalk can knock a permanent tooth out. In this situation, it’s critical that you move quickly, as a tooth needs to be reinserted by a dentist within 30-60 minutes in order to be saved. Find your knocked out tooth and place it in a bag or glass of milk. If you don’t have any milk, you can cover it in your saliva. Do not keep it in tap water, as that will damage the living cells on the roots! Use gauze or a soft washcloth to address any bleeding in your mouth and get to your dentist as soon as you can.
Lost Dental Crown of Filling
Restorations like crowns and fillings are designed to last a very long time with the right care. If one falls out in the middle of your day, you should call your dentist. Once an appointment is scheduled, you can use dental wax to cover the area where the restoration once was. Be very careful around it and avoid extra sugary foods to keep the area clean and cavity-free. Once you see your dentist, they’ll either reinsert your restoration or craft you a new one.
Hopefully, you’ll never experience a dental emergency. But if you do, keeping this information in mind can go a long way to help things go as smoothly as possible.
About the Author
At Limestone Dentistry, we see emergency patients as quickly as possible, oftentimes on the same day they call. Dr. Eric Thornton has years of experience providing emergency dental care and keeping patients comfortable and informed throughout the process. If you or a loved one is experiencing dental pain or damage, please don’t hesitate to reach our office at (812) 288-9300 or contact us online.