Dental emergencies can be infections, pain, bleeding, or other scary problems that could ultimately affect your beautiful smile. Many emergencies are less severe and may only require a trip to the dentist. Dental emergencies are often unexpected, so it is crucial to have a plan and a good dentist.
Preventive dental care is the best way to avoid dental emergencies, but it’s still important to know what to do if you have one. If you have a dental emergency, taking immediate and appropriate action can help you avoid further damage and restore your dental health in the long term.
To keep your oral health in check, be prepared for these most common dental emergencies:
1. Tooth Damage or Breakage
There are many ways to break your teeth: accidentally falling and landing face-first on the floor, biting on something hard, or having a tooth knocked out in a sporting accident. Whether the damage is just to a single tooth or the entire set, it is important to act quickly and contact your dentist.
If you suffer a chip, fracture, or wear, that affects the enamel or the pulp – the soft inner part of the tooth – you may have a dental emergency on your hands. Traditional restorative dental treatment is necessary to preserve the structural integrity of your tooth and to prevent the spread of infections.
2. Fully Knocked-Out Tooth
Pick up the tooth by the crown (the visible part) and only rinse the root if it is dirty. Remove any tissue from the surface before you start scrubbing.
It might be possible to put the tooth back in, but be careful not to force it into the socket. Time is of the essence when a tooth has been knocked out. It should be restored as quickly as possible for the best result.
3. Damaged Crowns and Fillings
If you have recently had a dental crown, bridgework, or other dental work completed and notice that the crown, bridge, or filling has become damaged or broken, it may have to be repaired. Dental crowns, bridges, and fillings can become damaged from biting, chewing, or being hit.
A damaged crown, bridge, or filling requires urgent attention to prevent the spread of bacteria, infection, and other problems.
4. Orthodontics Breaking
One of the most common orthodontics emergencies is teeth, brackets, or wires becoming loose. You may notice a tooth becoming sore, or you may notice that one of the wires or brackets on your braces has come loose or fallen off. When this happens, you may feel a painful, sharp sensation or notice that you are biting on or chewing on something that you didn’t know was there.
Broken brackets or other orthodontics can cause a lot of pain and may need to be removed. If you notice that your orthodontics has broken, it is important to contact your orthodontist as soon as possible.
Conclusion
There are many reasons for dental emergencies. Some situations you can’t avoid, and others you may have been able to, but there is no time to think about what you could have done differently when you have a dental emergency. Knowing what your options are and how to act in these situations can make a big difference in the long term.
Stay ahead of oral problems by knowing we have an emergency dentist in Lethbridge. Our dentists are fully equipped to restore your smile and help prevent further damage. In case of emergency, give us a call! We have a 24hr emergency dental line, because we know emergencies don’t always happen during business hours!