5 Signs You Need Emergency Dental Care

When accidents happen involving your teeth, it pays to know what to do and when you need to visit an emergency dentist. It can mean the difference between saving and losing a tooth. Emergency dental care is essential to stop serious bleeding, alleviate severe pain or save a tooth. Ignoring a serious dental problem can increase the risk of permanent damage as well as the need for more extensive treatment later on.

1. Knocked-Out Tooth

A knocked-out tooth requires urgent attention from an emergency dentist. With quick action after a tooth is knocked out, it’s possible your dentist will be able to reinsert and preserve your tooth. Pick up the tooth by the top of the tooth. Rinse the tooth off very gently to ensure that it’s clean. Gently place the tooth back into the socket if possible. Hold it gently in place while trying to bite down. If you can’t place the tooth back in the socket, put the tooth in milk and visit your dentist immediately.

2. Fractured, Cracked or Chipped Tooth

A cracked, fractured or chipped tooth is a serious issue that definitely requires a prompt visit to your emergency dentist. After the accident, clean your mouth out thoroughly by gently rinsing with warm water. If there’s bleeding, apply a piece of gauze to the area for about 10 minutes or until the bleeding stops. See your dentist immediately.

3. Abscessed Tooth

A dental abscess is a severe dental health condition where a pocket of pus in the tooth has led to an infection. It typically requires a root canal treatment. A tooth abscess may cause fever, sensitivity to hot and cold food and drink, a persistent toothache, tender lymph nodes in your neck, swelling in the face, and a pimple-like bump on your gums near the infected tooth.

This condition is an emergency as the infection can spread to other areas of the body. Possible complications include osteomyelitis (infection of the nearby bone), sinusitis, dental cyst, infection and clotting of the vessel and sepsis (a potentially life-threatening complication of an infection). Before you can see the dentist, rinse your mouth with mild saltwater several times to reduce the pain and draw the pus to the surface.

4. Lost Crown or Filling

If a crown falls off, make an appointment to see your emergency dentist as soon as possible and take the missing crown with you. In the meantime, if the tooth is causing pain, apply some sensitive toothpaste to the area. A filling falling out isn’t as serious but leaves a hole open for bacteria to enter, creating the potential for an infection. See your dentist to get this fixed as quickly as possible.

5. Broken Braces and Wires

If one of the wires on your braces breaks or sticks out of a bracket or band, contact a dentist immediately to get it fixed. If a broken wire is poking your cheek, tongue or gum, cover the end with orthodontic wax, a small cotton ball or some sugar free chewing gum until you can get to your dentist or orthodontist’s office.

Schedule an Appointment With Our Emergency Dentist

To schedule an appointment with an emergency dentist, call Dentists on the Gold Coast today on 07 5531 2053 or make a booking online. Our dedicated team provides a range of general, cosmetic, emergency and preventive dental care.