Dental Emergencies Guide

We've all experienced some sort of dental pain or discomfort at one point or another. But how can you determine if your situation constitutes a dental emergency requiring urgent care? Knowing what circumstances warrant emergency attention along with your options for treatment can help provide relief and prevent complications when dental issues arise.

Common Dental Emergencies

There are various types of dental emergencies that indicate the need for prompt treatment or intervention. Some examples include:

• Toothaches: Extreme, throbbing tooth pain often signals infection or other problems requiring immediate care. Severe sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures also means it's time to call your dentist.
• Lost or broken fillings: If an existing filling falls out, breaks, or becomes cracked and irritates your tongue, the exposed tooth area is at risk for additional decay. Applying dental wax can temporarily reduce discomfort.
• Broken or chipped teeth: Visible damage exposing the tooth's inner layers puts you at higher risk for infection. It's important to get fractured pieces repaired quickly before the situation worsens.
• Knocked out teeth: When teeth are completely knocked from their sockets, emergency dental care within 30 minutes to 1 hour gives you the best chance to have it successfully reimplanted. In the meantime, proper tooth storage and handling are key.

Signs that Indicate You Need Emergency Dental Care

How do you know if you should seek emergency help versus waiting for a routine dental appointment? Signs requiring urgent care include:

• Severe tooth or gum pain
• Prolonged bleeding from the mouth
• Painful swelling in the mouth, jaw, or gums
• Facial bruising or injury
• Numbness or tingling around the mouth

If experiencing any of these worrisome symptoms along with oral health issues, emergency assistance may be warranted.

Options for Emergency Dental Care

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Depending on your specific situation, emergency care for dental issues may be available through:

• Your general dentist's office
• An urgent dental care center
• A hospital emergency room

What to Do for a Toothache

Toothaches can definitely make you drop everything and desperately seek relief! Here is what to do while you wait for an emergency dental appointment.

• Try home remedies: Before heading to your dentist's office, a few at-home methods may provide temporary pain alleviation.
• Make an emergency dental appointment: The only way to definitively diagnose and properly treat a toothache is scheduling an urgent dental visit.

Options for a Broken or Lost Filling

It can be alarming to have an existing silver-colored filling suddenly fall out while eating, leaving a gaping hole in your tooth enamel. Here is what to do next.

• Use dental wax as a temporary fix: After thoroughly rinsing your mouth, cover the exposed tooth area by gently pressing a small ball of dental wax over it.
• Make an emergency dental appointment: While wax temporarily plugs the open space, contacting your dentist in Delhi promptly for an emergency visit is critical.

Treating Broken or Chipped Teeth

Cracked, fractured, or chipped teeth constitute dental emergencies demanding prompt care. Here is what you need to know for next steps.

• Save any broken fragments: Gently rinse out your mouth while carefully safeguarding all tooth pieces. Bring these to your dentist, as they may be usable for repairs.
• Use dental wax: Applying wax over a chipped tooth's rough edges provides protective buffering and reduces irritation against your tongue until undergoing dental treatment.
• Get emergency dental care: Schedule emergency dentistry as soon as possible after tooth damage occurs.

What to Do for a Knocked Out Tooth

Having a tooth completely knocked from its socket is a serious situation demanding emergency dental expertise. Taking quick action aids chances for tooth replanting.

• Use milk, saline, or holding solution to preserve tooth: After a tooth gets knocked out, carefully handle it by the crown only—avoid touching fragile root structures. Gently rinse off in water if dirty but do not scrub.
• Gently reinsert tooth in socket: While en route to your dentist, try lightly reinserting the tooth into its original socket if possible.
• Get emergency dental care within 30 minutes to 1 hour: See a dentist ASAP!