What you must do during a Dental Emergency
When you accidentally break a bone by falling off a chair, you know you have to go to the emergency room. But what about when you bite into something and chip your tooth? Many people would still go to the emergency room for treatment.
But here in this article, we will tell you precisely when it would be appropriate for you to visit the ER of a Dentist. Most emergencies can be handled at home itself, but some do require professional care, so please keep reading the article to learn more about the different types of emergencies….
Here are some instances where you might need to visit the dentist:
A knocked-out tooth:
A knocked-out tooth is the fastest way to ruin a smile. Perhaps you lost a tooth due to a trip and fall, or someone tackled you somewhat hard during football practice. Whatever the reason, you must visit the dentist as soon as possible. They might be able to save your tooth and restore your smile if you get to them quickly.
Try following these instructions to the best possible outcome:
Keep the knocked-out tooth moist to protect the tooth and the root. The safest place to keep a loose tooth is in your mouth, either in its original socket or between your cheek and gums. If this isn’t an option, place your tooth in a sealed jar with milk, saliva, or a tooth preservation product. Before putting it in the moist setting, make sure to rinse off any dirt carefully.
Chipped or cracked tooth:
A chipped or cracked tooth might be troublesome, depending on its location in the mouth. If it is in an area that causes no discomfort while talking, chewing, or brushing, then you can hold off on that visit. But if the cracked tooth is brushing against the inner part of the mouth, it might be time to make a trip to the ER.
The most common causes of chipped or cracked teeth are biting down on hard surfaces, using teeth for purposes other than biting and chewing, or an accident. People who grit or clench their teeth are more likely to have their teeth chipped or cracked.
An unexpected toothache:
Severe pain in the gums or mouth, which makes you unable to eat or even open your mouth, may cost you a visit to the dentist.
The primary reason for the pain may be:
Severe dental decay
Gum infection
Abscess Damaged filling
Fractured tooth
Depending on the underlying cause of your pain, treatment for an unexpected toothache will range from a simple filling to a root canal to tooth extraction.
In most cases, routine dental appointments will help you avoid the problems that cause your toothache.
Most possible treatment options provided by the dentist:
Depending on the size and extent of damage done; the dentist will follow this course of action:
Minor or minimal damage:
If a small portion of your tooth enamel has been chipped away, the dentist might be able to fix the damage with a filling. If the damage is on a front tooth or can be seen when you smile, the dentist will most likely use a tooth-coloured composite resin in a process called bonding.
Bonding is a straightforward process that does not usually necessitate numbing of the tooth. To bond a tooth, the dentist roughens the tooth’s surface with a liquid or gel before applying the bonding material. They would then apply an adhesive material to the tooth before applying a tooth-coloured resin and use ultraviolet light to harden the bonding agent after forming it to appear like a natural tooth.
Extensive damage:
If a large piece of a tooth breaks off or the tooth has a lot of decay, the dentist can grind or file away a portion of the remaining tooth and cover it with a crown, or tooth-shaped cap, designed to protect and improve the tooth’s appearance. Glass, porcelain fused to metal, all resin, or all-ceramic crowns are all options for permanent crowns. Benefits vary depending on the form. Crowns made entirely of metal are the most durable.
Final Note:
Dental emergencies shouldn’t be neglected. Apart from visiting your dentist only for emergencies, it is advised to go for regular dental check-ups at least twice in a year.
