Do you have a toothache and need urgent treatment? Or have lost a tooth during a game? As mentioned above, the conditions requiring emergency dental care are called dental emergencies. These can take place due to a number of reasons, untreated dental problems being the most common. Around 3.5 billion people get affected by dental problems worldwide, with the majority requiring emergency dental care due to untreated dental problems.
In the following article, we will take a look at some tips and tricks to help you handle a dental emergency without a dentist, as well as discuss the conditions under which you might need to visit an emergency dentist.
What is a dental emergency?
A dental emergency refers to a dental problem that needs immediate attention and care to avoid further deterioration of the condition. These can include uncontrolled bleeding or broken bones in severe cases and would require an immediate visit to an emergency dentist. Following are some dental emergencies that may need urgent care:
- Bleeding gums
- Broken jaw
- Tissue infection or breakage
What to do in case of a dental emergency?
The first thing you need to do in case of a dental emergency is to call your dentist. Call the emergency number of the dentist’s office if the condition deteriorates. If you are not able to reach your dentist, no need to worry, as there are multiple options to consider in a dental emergency. Here is what you can do:
- Visit the nearest dentist office to get immediate treatment
- Call the nearest dental emergency clinic for help
In the meantime, you can take the following steps:
- Rinse your mouth with warm salt water. This will help reduce any swelling.
- Apply an ice pack to your cheek to reduce pain.
Remember that these steps will only work for a few minutes and are not the permanent solution. Therefore, it is important to have emergency contacts saved.
Causes
The two main categories of the causes are:
- Oral conditions
Untreated oral conditions such as tooth caries, periodontitis and tooth decay are some of the common reasons for dental emergencies. Periodontitis affects 538 million people worldwide and is a great risk to your oral cavity if not treated on time.This can lead to severe and uncontrolled bleeding, leading to an infected bone.
Oral conditions lead to dental emergencies when patients are aware of the consequences in the long run, but have not yet taken any steps to deal with it.
- Sudden onset emergencies
Sudden onset emergencies are those that take place suddenly. These include:
- Car accidents
- Sports accidents
- Broken tooth during contact sports
- Using teeth as tools (opening cans and bottles)
- Eating hard food
- Jaw pain
How to handle common dental emergencies without a dentist?
Any injury to your gums and teeth is harmful and must not be taken lightly. Neglecting a dental problem or injury can not only lead to permanent damage, but also a long and expensive treatment that may take months to work. Here are a few dental emergencies and a guide to how you can deal with each in absence of an emergency dentist.
- Toothache
If you are experiencing extreme tooth pain, make sure to rinse your mouth with warm water. Remove any food particles stuck between your teeth using dental floss. If you experience any swelling in your gums, try using an ice pack/a cold compress near your cheek. This will help reduce swelling. Avoid using any painkiller near the affected area to prevent gum infection.
- Knocked out tooth
Find the tooth and rinse off with water. Make sure to put it back in the place if possible and not remove any tissue fragments attached to the tooth. Visit the dentist as soon as possible as knocked-out teeth can be placed back into the socket if taken to the dentist immediately.
- Dislodged tooth
Take a painkiller in case of an extruded tooth and run to the nearest dentist office as soon as possible. Apply a cold compress to relieve pain and swelling.
- Chipped tooth
Keep the broken piece, do not throw it away. Go to the dentist as soon as possible. You can take a painkiller and apply a cold compress in the meantime. If you experience bleeding, make sure to use cotton or a gauze to stop the bleeding.
- Objects stuck between teeth
Try removing the object with dental floss. If you are unable to remove it using a floss, go to an emergency dentist. Never use a sharp object to poke at it.
- Lost crown or filling
If you have lost a filling or a crown, cover with a sugarless gum and cotton respectively. Visit the dentist right away.
- Broken braces
If a wire of the braces breaks and is poking your cheek, use a pencil eraser to push it back into its place. If it does not work, use a piece of cotton or gauze to cover it while you reach the dentist office.
- Tissue injury
Injury to the soft tissues of your tongue or cheeks can lead to bleeding or infection. You must go to the doctor right away. Try following the given steps meanwhile:
- Rinse mouth with salt water
- Use a gauze to cover the place for 15 to 20 minutes. This will stop the bleeding.
- To control swelling, use a cold compress.
- If the bleeding does not stop, visit an emergency dentist right away to avoid further deterioration.
Conclusion
In coming to an end, there are multiple causes of dental emergencies, most of them being untreated and neglected dental issues. Multiple steps mentioned in the article will help stop the bleeding and swelling during an emergency if one is not able to reach the dentist immediately.
If you ever experience a dental emergency and need to visit an emergency dentist, Lycian Dental Clinic is your best choice. At Lycian Clinic, we offer professional emergency dental care from expert dentists at affordable rates.
