Dental Emergencies That Need a Visit to an Emergency Dentist
Aug 01, 2022
As we all know, life is uncertain. Things never really go as you have planned. A picnic can turn disastrous, accidents happen, and the next thing you know, you need an emergency dentist.
For most people, telling apart what a dental emergency is and what it’s not is challenging and understandably so. When you are in a dental emergency, emotions are running wild, and you might not be thinking straight. Nothing makes a dental emergency worse, like panicking.
So this means that you need to have the proper information to help you differentiate a dental emergency from a non-emergency.
If you are faced with a dental issue that can wait for a day or two before visiting an emergency dentist, then it is not a dental emergency. In most cases, the situation may seem severe at first, but it turns out that it is less severe than you think.
For instance, if you might have a cracked tooth but aren’t experiencing any pain or there are no fragments in your mouth that can hurt the gums, cheeks, or tongue, then there is no need for emergency dentistry.
Some of the dental issues that aren’t classified as dental emergencies are:
Now let’s look at dental emergencies that may require urgent dental care.
Always remember that any dental issue needing immediate attention is categorized as a dental emergency. In other words, if the issue is time-sensitive and cannot wait for a day or two to be resolved, then it’s safe to say that you are in a dental emergency.
Since knowing what a dental emergency is could be challenging, you should ask yourself the following questions:
If you answer these questions and the answer is yes, then you need immediate attention.
Many dental issues have the potential of being dental emergencies. As per our San Antonio emergency dentist, here are some of the common ones:
Soft tissue injuries usually occur due to direct trauma to the mouth. You might have lacerations or tear to the lips, tongue, and cheeks that can cause excessive bleeding. If this is the case, you will need to clean the injury site with warm salty water. If your tongue is bleeding, gently put pressure on the wound with gauze, and if the mouth is swollen, use a cold compress to deal with the swelling.
Ensure that you make your way to our office to receive immediate care.
Another typical dental emergency is when your tooth gets knocked out. If your tooth is knocked out, you must rush to our dental clinic to increase the chances of reattaching it; if you can make it within 30 minutes, the better.
But before you get here, you will need to pick the tooth by the crown and never the roots so that the roots remain undisturbed. Rinse off the dirt using water, but do it gently and don’t scrub it. You can try and reinsert it in the socket and try biting it down. If you find this difficult, place it between your cheeks and gums or in a jar of milk.
Your tooth can easily break or crack due to trauma or biting on something hard. At times, you might not feel any pain. However, if the crack or fracture is accompanied by pain, the crack may have reached the inner parts of the tooth.
So, rinse your mouth with salt water, preferably warm water. You can use a cold compress to minimize the swelling. Don’t use topical painkillers on the gums because your gums will burn.
Another dental emergency is a tooth abscess. It is a severe tooth infection that comes with a fever, tender pus-filled gums, and foul breath. It needs immediate attention since it can spread to the rest of your body, so gargle warm salty water to draw the pus to the surface if you have an abscessed tooth.
Then, make your way to our office.
Dental emergencies always require prompt action. So, contact us at AB Dental and Oral Surgery if you need an emergency dentist in San Antonio, TX!