Dentists are our firsthand source of support when it comes to oral issues. However, what’s the best thing to do if you are experiencing a dental condition beyond the regular office and clinic hours? During this situation, it is critical to distinguish between a simple dental matter that could wait until the following day and a dental emergency which might jeopardize your oral health.
Suppose you are experiencing significant dental aches and other concerns on a holiday, a weekend, or during the wee hours of the night. In that case, you could be dealing with a dental emergency. You will almost certainly need the services of an emergency dentist in these circumstances. Below, we will discuss dental crises and provide advice on coping with them.
Recognizing Dental Emergency
A dental emergency applies especially to situations that might be life-threatening and therefore cannot wait until the following day to be handled. You should contact an emergency dentist at once and explain your condition when this happens.
Dental crises are prevalent and often noticeable. However, because not all dental emergencies require urgent care, you should consider a few indicators before further steps. Here are some handy tips and recommendations for each dental emergency that you should be aware of before taking a visit to the nearest emergency provider.
Teeth Knocked Out
If you have had your teeth knocked out, a quick trip to an emergency dentist will aid in preserving your teeth and enhance the likelihood of reattaching them.
But how can you do so? First, you have to gently pick your teeth by their crown without touching the root. It’s best to rinse it clean, but you should avoid scrubbing its surface. As an alternative, you can reinsert the lost tooth from its original socket until you reach your dentist. If the circumstances do not allow it, you can put the knocked-out tooth on a sanitized container instead.
Chipped or Fractured Teeth
Warm water might help relieve pain if the pain is significant and you have a large fracture on your teeth. You can also apply a cold compress to the swollen region. Be mindful of using first aid solutions, as it might cause more damage than good. More so, avoid using pain relievers or numbing gels, as these might lead to serious harm to your gum line.
Dental Abscess
A dental abscess is a severe and sometimes fatal dental disorder caused by infection, generally in pus pockets inside the tooth region. It can induce tooth sensitivity, high fever, pain, and the appearance of lymph nodes. You can also find signs of swelling and a bit of inflammation on the face, including acne-like bumps near the infected region.
If you have a tooth abscess, you could relieve the discomfort by rinsing with salt water. Nonetheless, you should seek medical attention immediately since the illness can spread to the surrounding region over time.
Pale Gums
Because oral symptoms are among the first to manifest in the condition, a dental hygienist could be well situated to be the specialist to discover patients showing signs of anemia. Anemia can appear clinically as gingival pallor or pale gums. It could also be connected to oral candidiasis and other common dental infections.
Medications are not advisable unless laboratory testing reveals a deficit. Therefore, a referral to the necessary practitioner is necessary. Aside from OTC iron supplements, they will be the ones to provide you with the essential nutritional advice.
Preventing Oral Emergencies
Following a dental crisis, your dentist will address the reasons and sources of the condition. Typically, you could avoid problems like these by maintaining proactive oral hygiene. It is essential to maintain periodic consultations so that your dental provider can address any growing oral concerns and prepare an appropriate treatment plan as soon as possible.
It is also vital to follow your dentist’s aftercare advice to minimize hazards and reduce the likelihood of experiencing another dental emergency. Most significantly, having a personal incentive to maintain thorough dental hygiene can dramatically reduce your anxieties.
Preparing for the Unknown
Although maintaining appropriate oral hygiene and regularly seeing your dentist will help reduce the likelihood of a dental issue, unanticipated events and mishaps can still occur. If you have this situation, emergency dentists can help you. They are the people who can assist you in receiving urgent care for your dental troubles.
Seeing a dental professional as soon as you see signs of a dental crisis might not only boost your chances of preserving your tooth but will also assist in reducing the pain and concern you are experiencing.