How To Handle Dental Emergencies

As with any emergency situation, being prepared ahead of time is the best way to handle an emergency properly. Dental emergencies are no exception, and knowing how to handle a dental emergency can help you save a tooth and protect your smile.

First things first: if your jaw has been broken or dislocated, if you have a severe laceration in your oral tissues, or if you have any type of abscess that is hindering your breathing – Go to the ER right away!

For other dental emergencies, a visit to the ER is not typically required because your dentist is equipped to handle most all other situations that occur. However, it is important to understand what exactly qualifies as a dental emergency. Below are the most common dental emergencies:

• Cracked or broken tooth
• Lost filling
• Cut inside the mouth
• Severe bitten lip or tongue
• Broken dental crown or bridge
• A knocked out tooth
• Any type of severe pain in your tooth/teeth
• A loosened permanent tooth
• Swelling inside the mouth
• An abscess or infection
• Tooth sensitivity

Of course, the most traumatic dental emergency typically involves that loss of a permanent tooth, but these other dental emergencies can actually pose more of a threat to the health of your mouth. That is because many people tend to ignore them until they become so severe that major intervention is necessary. Any issue within your mouth should be addressed sooner than later because it is typically a symptom of a greater issue.

For a dental emergency in which a tooth has been knocked out or knocked loose from its socket, time if of the essence. If at all possible, gently place the knocked out tooth back into its socket. This will encourage the tooth roots to reattach themselves. However, if it is not possible to place the tooth in the socket, put the tooth in a small amount of milk or your own saliva to keep it moist. Make sure you take your tooth with you to the dentist, and get to the dentist as quickly as possible. Successful reconnection of a knocked out tooth is not always possible, but immediate intervention increases the chance for success.

Call Green Dental of Alexandria right away for all of your dental emergency needs.