Hello, I'm Dr. Perez, and I am here at Diamond Dental Arts. My husband, who is also a dentist, and I are the owners of the practice. Today, we are going to be talking about an interesting subject, and actually one of the most common reasons we get patients here in the office: emergency dentistry.
What qualifies as a dental emergency?
A dental emergency is any situation that requires immediate attention from a dentist. Essentially, any condition that causes severe pain, bleeding, or swelling in the mouth needs prompt attention to prevent further damage or complications. For example, an infection spread could lead the patient to a hospital.
What is the list of the most common dental emergencies?
First of all, severe tooth pain is actually one of the most common ones. It could also be a broken or chipped tooth, a knocked-out tooth, uncontrollable bleeding, significant swelling of the mouth, and, of course, infection. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms or situations, you should contact your dentist immediately. If it is during regular office hours here at Diamond Dental Arts, we reserve spots specifically for emergencies because we understand the severity of dental pain and infections. However, if the pain is severe, such as when the patient is not able to breathe or swallow, and it is outside office hours, you should go to the emergency room.
What should I do if I lose a tooth?
It's a good question. We call that a knocked-out tooth. Time is of the essence here. The tooth should be handled gently without touching the root surface. A knocked-out tooth should be quickly and gently rinsed with water without any super cleaning agents. If you can place it back in the socket as soon as possible, it will be great. If not, you can use a bag of milk or saline solution and put the tooth in there, but run to the dental office as soon as possible.
Can you treat a broken tooth in only one visit?
It's a good question. First of all, this breaking is not a normal occurrence, and it requires immediate attention. The first step is to determine why the tooth broke, as it could have an underlying cause that needs to be identified and treated to prevent further dental issues. If the broken tooth can be repaired, it should be done, for example, with a crown. Sometimes, we may need to perform what we call a root canal treatment if the nerve of the tooth is affected. In such cases, in only one visit, we can do everything: the nerve treatment, called a root canal treatment, and also the crown. In the next visit, we can place the permanent crown.
Another question I get a lot from patients is how do you handle dental emergencies after hours?
How do you handle dental emergency after hours?
It's a good question. If you experience severe pain or any dental emergency after hours here at Diamond Dental Arts, you can always contact me or my husband at (941) 239-6557. That is our after-hours contact option, and we will do anything in our power to answer all your questions and give you maybe some tips on what you can do to manage the pain until you get the appointment that generally is the day after. Because, like I explained before, here in the office, we like to reserve spots for dental emergencies. Our main goal is always going to be making our patient feel comfortable and cared for, so we try to accommodate them as much as possible to reduce the need for multiple visits.
Okay, so finally, I would like to talk a little bit about how to treat or how to manage severe tooth pain at home until you get the appointment.
How to manage severe tooth pain at home?
The first thing that you should do is contact your dentist immediately because you need to get that appointment. Then you can, for example, try to manage the pain with over-the-counter medication. It could be, for example, ibuprofen in combination with Tylenol until you get that appointment. Also, a cold compress could be really effective because it could effectively numb the area and alleviate the toothache. Another thing that you could try is saltwater rinses because a simple saltwater rinse, believe it or not, could work wonders. A simple mix of salt in warm water, and you can use it like a rinse thoroughly. The saline solution helps to reduce swelling, cleanses the mouth, and alleviates the pain. Repeat this like three to four times a day for ultimate relief.
Another thing that you could try is clove oil. Why? Because that is a natural anesthetic and antiseptic agent. So apply like a small amount of clove oil on a cotton ball and gently press against the affected tooth. The oil in that substance can cause really, really good relief of the pain. Another thing that you could try also is peppermint tea. Why? Because peppermint tea possesses properties that can soothe the toothache. You can brew a cup of peppermint tea, let it cool down, and swish it around the mouth or use it as a mouth rinse. The menthol in the peppermint tea acts as a natural anesthetic too. Lastly, you can use hydrogen peroxide rinses because that has antiseptic properties that can reduce plaque and soothe the discomfort. Be sure not to swallow it. Rinse your mouth with hydrogen peroxide for 30 seconds and then spit it out.
So it is crucial to maintain our teeth, right? And addressing dental emergencies promptly is part of this. Even if the over-the-counter medications alleviate the pain, it is essential to consult a dental professional. I hope, guys, this has been helpful and has helped you understand how important it is to have an emergency dentist. So if you have any questions or you are going through a dental emergency like the one that we have been discussing today, please don't hesitate to reach out to us here at Diamond Dental Arts at (941) 239-6557. We are here to help you feel your best.
A dental emergency, whether it is experienced in your teeth, gums, or elsewhere, can have severe ramifications if ignored, especially when effects are permanent or require extensive, expensive treatment in the future. To prevent dental emergencies from occurring, you should always:
- Wear a mouth guard when you are participating in sporting activities. Use a mouth guard to protect yourself, particularly if it is a contact sport like hockey, football, and boxing. Mouth guards can help prevent serious mouth injuries, including bleeding gums and chipped or knocked out teeth.
- Eat carefully and wisely. Although teeth are strong, you can still crack or chip a tooth by eating hard candy, nuts, or chewing crunchy meat (bacon). Use caution when you bite down on these products, or simply remove them from your diet because they are not worth the risk of chipping a tooth.
- Avoid chewing on items that are not edible. Many patients have oral tendencies, such as biting their nails or chewing on pens. This can cause cracks or chips in their teeth. Swap these items for sugarless chewing gum, a product that stimulates saliva production and cleanses bacteria.
Toothaches
Rinse your mouth with warm water and use dental floss to dislodge any food that lies between your teeth. When your mouth is swollen, apply a cold compress to the outside of your mouth or cheek. Aspirin, or any other painkiller, should not be put against your gums near the aching tooth since it may burn your gum tissue.
Chipped or Broken Tooth
Salvage any pieces and rinse them in warm water, along with your mouth. For bleeding, apply a piece of gauze to the area for roughly ten minutes or until the bleeding completely ceases. Then, apply a cold compress to the outside of your mouth, cheek, or lip near the broken or chipped tooth in order to limit any swelling and relieve discomfort.
Lost Filling
Prior to coming in, stick a piece of sugarless gum into the cavity or utilize an over-the-counter dental cement. Gum containing sugar will only augment your discomfort.
Lost Crown
Should you be unable to reach our dental practice immediately and your tooth is causing significant pain, use a cotton swab to apply a small amount of clove oil to the sensitive area. You might have a chance of slipping the crown back over your tooth, though it is vital that you first coat the surface with an over-the-counter dental cement, toothpaste, or denture adhesive to help hold the crown in position.
Dislodged (Luxated) Teeth
Dislodged (also known as luxated) teeth, occur when a tooth is pushed sideways out of, or into, its socket. We can re-position and stabilize this tooth, but root canal treatment is usually needed if it happens to your permanent teeth, and should be performed within a few days after the injury. For children who experience this with their baby teeth, we will monitor the recovery process carefully, intervening the moment unfavorable changes occur.
Before arriving at our office, apply a cold compress to the outside of your mouth or cheek in the affected area to relieve any discomfort. An over-the-counter pain reliever, such as Tylenol or Advil, can also assist you in the meantime.
Knocked-Out (Avulsed) Tooth
Knocked-out (also known as avulsed) teeth, are exactly what they sound like – teeth that have been completely knocked out of their socket. Time is of the essence here. The tooth should be handled gently, without touching the root surface. A knocked-out tooth should be quickly and gently rinsed in water, without any soap or other cleaning agents. You should also avoid scraping or brushing the tooth with a toothbrush. If you can, place it back in its socket as soon as possible – the less time it spends outside its socket, the greater chance there is to save it. Once the tooth is placed back in its socket, we will check for other dental and facial injuries, and then a stabilizing splint will be placed for a few weeks to support the tooth. If the tooth cannot be placed back in its socket, you should place the tooth in a bag of milk and head to our dentist office, or nearest emergency room.
Soft-Tissue Injuries
An injury to the soft tissue in your mouth, such as the tongue, cheeks, gums, or lips, can cause bleeding. In this case, you can control the bleeding by following these steps:
- Rinse your mouth with a mild mixture of salt and water.
- With a moistened piece of gauze or tea bag, apply pressure to the bleeding area, holding it in place for 15-to-20-minutes.
- Hold a cold compress to the outside of your mouth or cheek in the impacted area for 5-to-10-minutes, as it will work to control bleeding and relieve pain.
- If the bleeding continues, despite your efforts, call our dental practice or go to the nearest hospital emergency room. Keep applying pressure to the bleeding area with gauze until you are seen and treated.
Abscess
An abscess is an infection around the root of a tooth or within the space between your gums and teeth. These represent a severe condition that can harm tissue and surrounding teeth, as the infection can potentially spread to other parts of your body if neglected. To ease the discomfort and draw the pus near the surface, rinse your mouth with a mild saltwater solution a few times per day. Abscesses resemble a pimple-like swelling on the gums and typically cause discomfort, and they can carry the threat of serious oral and general health issues.
Post-Extraction Bleeding and Discomfort
Some discomfort following a tooth extraction is expected, but if bleeding continues an hour after the procedure, call our office. To keep yourself relatively comfortable, place a gauze pad over the extraction site and apply pressure by biting down on it.
Signs and Symptoms
Watch for signs in your mouth, such as bleeding, sensitivity, pain, discoloration, a sore, lump, or anything abnormal, as they can be early signs of an oral disease. Inform us when this occurs so we can examine the area for any treatment that may be needed.