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The Most Common Dental Emergencies and How to Handle Them

Emergencies don’t come with prior notice. You are playing basketball on a weekend getaway with friends, and now you have a broken tooth. Or you fell, had a nasty accident, and now you must visit your dentist or general physician immediately.

For an ordinary person, it is difficult to determine whether the injury is minor and can be treated at home or if immediate dental care is necessary.

In case of a severe dental problem over the weekend or holidays, you are advised to visit emergency dentistry in Chandler. This guide discusses some common dental emergencies and how you can handle them.

Toothache

Every problem starts with pain. While many dental issues don’t surface overnight, pain indicates it is time for a dental checkup. In addition, pain indicates several problems, such as tooth decay, cracked tooth, abscess, etc.

How to Handle?

  • Avoid taking regular painkillers such as aspirin. Instead, take Tylenol if the pain is unbearable. 
  • Use an ice pack on the swollen area.
  • Contact an emergency dentist if the pain doesn’t subside. Or you can book an appointment on the coming weekday if the pain isn’t severe.

Mouth Injury

So, you had a fall or an accident and now have a bleeding mouth. Your teeth feel loose, and you might feel traumatic. First of all, don’t panic and follow the below instructions.

How to Handle?

  • Rinse your mouth with saltwater. It will help alleviate the pain 
  • Suck on an ice pop to reduce swelling.
  • Apply pressure with gauze on the bleeding area or use an ice pack on the side of the face to numb the area. It will lessen pain. 
  • Call the dentist immediately and visit the emergency room.

Chipped, Broken, or Knocked-out Tooth

A chipped tooth is when you lose the upper protection, i.e., your tooth’s enamel. It increases sensitivity, and the tooth may suffer further damage if not attended to on time.

A broken tooth loses a part of it, or a crack appears on it. In both cases, the tooth becomes very unsafe because if you bite down on it, it can break further.

A knocked-out tooth is one where the crown falls off place. During sports, you often witness a knocked-out tooth where a severe blow can dislodge the crown. 

How to Handle?

  • In case of a chipped and broken tooth, you must be careful. The broken pieces of tooth may injure the inside of your mouth. Rinse your mouth and apply cold gauze to the side to reduce swelling. Do not wipe your tongue over the broken tooth; it is not safe.
  • In case of a knocked-out tooth, pick up the broken tooth, and wash it if it gets dirty.
  • Avoid rubbing it, or the healthy tissues might fall off. 
  • Do not try to push the teeth in place on your own, as it can injure your gum further.
  • Try to stop bleeding and rush to ER.

Abscessed Tooth

An abscessed tooth is a pocket of pus that forms around the tooth and can cause severe gum infection if not attended to on time. The problem doesn’t appear overnight. It looks like a pimple initially and grows into a yellow dot as the bacterial infection increases. 

How to Handle?

  • The best way to handle an abscessed tooth is by removing the infection.
  • Unfortunately, you must call the emergency dentist and book the appointment as it requires an incision. Unfortunately, there is little you can do to help.

Bleeding

Bleeding gums or teeth are a result of prolonged infection or decay. Either it is gingivitis or dental disease. It is not an emergency; you need not call your dentist immediately if the bleeding stops. But if it doesn’t, it is a problem.

How to Handle?

  • Rinse your mouth with clean water, and examine your tooth if anything seems out of place. 
  • If the bleeding doesn’t stop, keep your head high and contact the nearest emergency dentistry in Chandler.

Broken Orthodontics

If you wear braces, this is for you. Braces are tough and suffer significantly in your mouth, but breaking is the last thing expected of them. But it is possible and can also cause severe injuries if you bite down on them or cut the wires and swallow them down accidentally.

How to Handle?

  • If the wire pokes your tongue or cheeks, try to push it in place.
  • Cover the exposed wire with gauze or orthodontic wax.
  • Visit your emergency dentist as soon as possible if the wire doesn’t fit in place.

Emergency Dentistry in Chandler

Peace of Mind Dental Studio is an emergency dentistry in Chandler, where we understand that emergencies can come at any time. Thus, we are committed to offering you emergency treatments to relieve you of pain at the earliest and refrain problems from getting severe. If you are facing a dental emergency, contact us now!  

Written by Dr. Silverman

Dr. Silverman is the co-founder of Peace of Mind Dental, a Chandler Arizona, general dentistry practice.

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