Like any other medical emergency, a dental emergency can come in many forms. Others are more severe than others, while some need immediate attention. Albeit only a minimum part of the body, any emergency in the teeth or mouth as a whole should be appropriately dealt with. Else, it can still lead to severe consequences such as infections, uncontrollable pain, and whatnot.

When a dental emergency happens, you must know what it is you’ve got to do. The timeliness of your actions plays a significant role in the success (or failure) of your situation’s result. That said, you’re in the right place. Here you’ll learn about the things that you should do in the event of a dental emergency. Read on to learn more.

But First, Here Are Examples Of Medical Emergencies

Before proceeding, it’s imperative first to make the distinction as to what’s classified as dental emergencies or not. That way, should it happen, you’re a hundred percent that what you’re facing is, in fact, an emergency.

Common situations include:

  • Being in severe tooth or mouth pain
  • Blood coming from the mouth that doesn’t stop
  • Bulging or swollen gums
  • Recent facial trauma that resulted in loose, cracked or chipped teeth
  • Swelling in the lower facial area or mouth

Now, What To Do – In Specific Situations

1. What To Do When A Tooth Is Knocked Loose

If a permanent tooth is knocked out, locate the tooth. The emergency dentist might need it. Then, rinse the mouth with warm water. Apply a cold compress to your face in the area of the injury, or where the tooth fell off. You may be fine if the person is conscious. If the person is, however, unconscious, seek immediate dental and emergency advice. Preferably do this within a timeframe of 30 minutes.

While you’re getting hold of an emergency dentist or before you leave your home, remember the following tips in handling the permanent tooth that got knocked out:

  • Hold the tooth by the crown part only. This refers to that part of the tooth that’s used to chew.
  • Run the tooth in running water.

The same procedure also applies, just in case a dental implant comes off.

2. What To Do When There’s Tooth Abscess

Tooth abscess can be determined when you’re experiencing pain or discomfort to cold or hot temperatures when eating food or drinking. In this instance, you’ll need to contact an emergency dentist asap.

Here are other tips to follow, in this situation:

  • Cold Sensitivity. You can tell when you’ve got a cold sensitivity also when it becomes painful for you to breathe. In this case, it’s best to avoid cold beverages, desserts, or meals. While waiting to be cured, you may also want to practice breathing through your nose.
  • Sensitivity to heat. This can be determined when you experience severe pain from hot or warm food and drinks. In this situation, you may want to try drinking or sipping ice water. This gives you immediate relief for the pain.

Most abscess in the mouth can be minor. However, when left alone, these can turn into major problems that can even be potentially life-threatening. These should be dealt with immediately, but only by the best dental emergency experts.

3. What To Do When There’s A Broken, Chipped Or Cracked Tooth

When you experience a broken, chipped or cracked tooth, then definitely, you’re going to need to go and see an emergency dentist right away. You can’t do anything by yourself to save the tooth. A visit to your Dentist In Greeneville will present you with the following remedies:

  • Tooth fillings are done for small, broken teeth.
  • Larger parts, however, are addressed through dental crowns.

These are procedures that the dentists do to repair your teeth. The result is that you’ll have teeth looking exactly as it did before.

4. What To Do When There’s A Tooth Out Of Alignment

Call your dentist for a dental emergency appointment right away whenever you’ve got a tooth that’s out of alignment. This can also refer to a single loose tooth.

In the meantime, however, you may want to slowly and temporarily put the tooth back in the proper alignment. You can do this by pushing the tooth with your finger, under very light pressure. Don’t try to force it. If it feels painful, then stop. Once the tooth is aligned correctly, you may also want to slowly bite into it to push it more stable on its position and keep it steady.

5. What To Do In A Dental Trauma

Dental trauma is also referred to as a horizontal root fracture. This situation requires urgent dental care. There’s nothing else that you can do by yourself. Leave your home as quickly as possible, and visit an emergency dentist.

6. What To Do In A Tissue Injury Or Facial Pain

A tissue injury refers to puncture wounds, lacerations, or tears to your mouth, lips, tongue, and gums. These are considered dental emergencies, where you’ll need the help of a dentist as soon as you can. While waiting, however, here are some remedies for you to apply, to help make the injury better:

  • Clean the affected area immediately with warm water.
  • Never take aspirin or ibuprofen. These are anticoagulants, which can result in excessive bleeding.
  • If the tongue is bleeding, pull out the tongue forward. Put pressure on the wound using gauze.

7. What To Do With Problems With Temporary Restorations

Depending on the condition of your teeth, there may be some of you who also have temporary restorations placed by your dentist. Because they’re only temporary, it’s reasonable that soon enough, these will fall off or have problem areas.

One of the most common temporary restorations that can fall off are dental crowns. Temporarily, you may want to use toothpaste as an adhesive to put it back into place while you haven’t seen your dentist yet. Bite down the crown with a washcloth, to put it into position even better. Your dentist is the only person that can have this re-cemented properly.

Conclusion

Whenever a dental emergency arises, your dentist should always be the very first person that you’ll run to. Like any other emergency, often, the result of your tooth getting saved is dependent on a matter of minutes. The tips mentioned above are also those that you can do while waiting to be seen by an emergency dentist. That way, you’re giving your teeth the best care possible, in a dire situation of an emergency.