Emergency Dental Care
What Is Emergency Dental Care?
Even the most conscientious dental care routines cannot prevent accidents that might necessitate dental emergency treatment. While preventative care decreases your chances of an emergency visit to your dentist, it is vital to understand that unexplained persistent tooth pain can be just as serious as other forms of emergencies.
Toothache is always a warning that something is amiss with your oral cavity. Seeking treatment from our dentists at Sedro-Woolley Family Dental Center can prevent an emergency dental situation from deteriorating further.
How to Recognize a Dental Emergency
Severe tooth pain or an unfortunate accident involving your mouth could be the primary reason for all dental emergencies. However, the need for most dental emergency visits arises from oral conditions that slowly increase pain and ultimately become impossible to ignore. Medical care should be sought promptly for painful oral conditions.
Emergency Tips in Dental Emergencies
A Knocked-Out Tooth
A knocked-out tooth is a serious dental trauma that can be remedied with rapid and appropriate action. If this happens to you, hold the tooth gently and rinse it with warm water. If possible, try to insert it in the socket or place the tooth between your gum and cheek. Alternatively, you put the tooth in a small container of milk and rush to a dental office. There is a chance it can be salvaged.
Broken, Fractured, or Chipped Teeth
An impaired tooth can be extremely painful, especially if your tooth’s roots are exposed. In such a situation, you should promptly wash your mouth with warm saline water, put an ice compress on your face to keep any swelling down, and visit your dentist as soon as possible. Restorations like bonding or crowns may help save the tooth.
Abscess
An abscess, if not treated promptly, can be very painful and risky. The infection can spread the disease to your tooth, jawbone, and even other areas of your body. Hence do not overlook any lump or swelling of the gum, as it is possible to have an abscess without experiencing pain.
Acute Pulpitis
An acute pulpitis is caused when the tooth’s inner pulp becomes swollen due to a bacterial infection. As a result, you may suffer from continuous pain, swelling, sensitivity to extreme temperature, and a fever. If pulpitis is not treated, it could lead to loss of the tooth.
Stuck Objects
If any food particles or other objects are stuck between your teeth, gently remove them with floss. Avoid using sharp pointed tools for this purpose. If you cannot remove the object on your own, seek emergency care at our office.