Dental emergencies often arise due to trauma and require immediate care. Patients can expect to visit a medical emergency room (ER) for the initial treatment of their wounds, but ER doctors do not typically have training on how to treat dental complications such as knocked out or loose teeth.
Fortunately, there are dental emergency clinics that specialize in these cases. They can help alleviate pain, prevent further damage and reduce swelling until a regular dentist is available. Contact Emergency Dentist Las Vegas for professional help.
Dental emergencies are a broad category of dental issues that require immediate treatment. A few common types of emergencies include a knocked out tooth, a dental abscess and severe tooth pain.
While preventative dental care is the best way to avoid these problems, there are times when immediate emergency treatment is necessary. Whether it’s due to trauma or poor hygiene, these situations should be dealt with as quickly as possible to prevent further complications and reduce discomfort.
Toothaches are the most common type of dental emergency and can be caused by many things. A toothache is often a sign of a damaged root or nerve, which can be the result of a deep cavity, gum disease or even trauma. Other symptoms of a toothache may include throbbing, hot or cold sensitivity and a bad taste in the mouth.
A broken tooth can also be a dental emergency, especially if the fracture exposes the root of the tooth or causes jaw alignment issues like TMJ. This can cause extreme discomfort and if left untreated can lead to further dental issues.
If your tooth is broken or chipped, rinse your mouth out with warm water and try to save the tooth if possible. It is important to pick up the tooth by the crown and not the root and keep it in milk or water until you can see an emergency dentist.
Another dental emergency is a dental abscess which happens when a pocket of pus forms at the base of the tooth or in the gums. This can be a result of advanced tooth decay, failing root canal therapy or injury to the tooth. If you have a dental abscess, an emergency dentist can drain the pus and provide antibiotics if necessary.
Finally, braces can sometimes break if you eat hard foods or the wire becomes loose. This is a serious problem that requires immediate attention as it can poke your tongue, cheek or gums and cause other injuries. Leaving a broken brace can also derail your treatment and lengthen the overall time of your orthodontic process. An emergency dentist can help you fix these broken wires, brackets or loose teeth and relieve your pain.
Broken Teeth
Tooth pain is typically caused by inflammation or infection in the center of a tooth called the pulp. This inflammation or infection can come from a dental cavity where the enamel and dentin have been weakened by decay, or it can result from trauma like a cracked tooth or jaw misalignment called temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder.
While it’s normal to experience the occasional toothache, if you have persistent tooth pain, don’t ignore it. Left untreated, these symptoms can escalate and lead to more serious problems down the road. This can include bone loss around the roots of the tooth, a jaw fracture, and more.
If you break a tooth, it’s important to seek emergency treatment as soon as possible. Depending on the severity of the break, the dentist may be able to reattach it. The longer you wait, the greater chance of permanent damage and costly treatments down the road.
There are many types of broken teeth, ranging from small chips to severe cracks that expose the tooth’s inner nerve. Tiny fractures do not require immediate treatment and can be mended with dental bonding or dental filling. A more serious break that exposes the inner nerve will need root canal therapy and a dental crown.
A knocked out tooth is considered a medical emergency and should be treated in the office as soon as possible. If the dentist is unable to reattach the tooth, it can be replaced with a dental restoration such as an implant.
While it’s normal to feel some anxiety about calling the emergency dentist, don’t hesitate. While you can usually wait for a regular appointment, any issues that are causing pain and discomfort should be addressed as soon as possible. Leaving a dental issue untreated can lead to more expensive, and sometimes even life-threatening complications down the road.
Loose Teeth
A dental emergency is a condition that is deemed urgent and requires immediate attention. Examples include a knocked out tooth, severe dental pain, and dental trauma. Some dental emergencies are not as severe as others and can be dealt with during normal office hours, such as a loose filling or a chipped tooth that does not cause pain or bleeding.
Many people confuse the definition of dental emergencies with medical emergencies, but these are not the same. A medical emergency must present a risk to life, limb or vision, while a dental emergency simply requires the patient to be seen promptly.
Infections of the gum tissue or tooth root prompt patients to seek emergency treatment primarily because of severe pain and swelling. These can include irreversible pulpitis, acute necrotizing periodontitis, apical abscesses, and pericoronitis (an infection of the gingival tissue overlying an erupting 3rd molar).
Other dental problems that are considered emergencies are loose or fractured teeth, jaw injuries, and traumatic tooth injury. The presence of swelling and excessive bleeding in the mouth also warrants an emergency visit to the dentist.
For most dental emergencies, it is important to try and remain calm. Using over-the-counter pain relievers, like ibuprofen, is an excellent way to manage discomfort until you can get into the dentist’s chair. Rinsing the mouth with warm salt water can also help to clean the area and alleviate inflammation.
In the case of a broken or knocked out tooth, it is important to rinse the mouth and try to find any pieces of the tooth that may have come off. Putting the tooth back in place is often possible, but it must be done quickly to reduce the chances of further damage. It is important to avoid biting down on the impacted tooth until you are in the dentist’s chair. The emergency dentist will advise you on what to do next.
Toothache
When a toothache flares up, you want to be sure you get prompt care. The longer a dental problem goes untreated, the worse it gets. If your regular dentist can’t see you right away, a 24-hour emergency dental clinic is the place to go for urgent dental care.
Toothaches typically happen because of inflammation in the central portion of the tooth called the pulp. The pulp contains nerve endings that detect pain and signal it to your brain. Several things can cause inflammation in the pulp, including cavities that reach the enamel and dentin layers, gingivitis, or trauma to the mouth.
A toothache is an emergency if it’s accompanied by a lot of swelling or if you’re in significant pain. Over-the-counter pain relievers, like ibuprofen, can help ease discomfort until you’re able to make an appointment with your dentist. Rinsing your mouth with warm saltwater can also help to soothe inflammation and kill germs.
An infection or injury in the soft tissue of the mouth can trigger a dental emergency, too. If the pain and swelling involve an erupting or partially erupted tooth, try to gently remove the object with dental floss. Never use sharp instruments to remove an object lodged between your teeth. If the object is too large to remove, rinse the area with warm water and a mild antibacterial mouthwash until you’re able to see an emergency dentist.
Dental abscesses are another common reason people seek emergency dental care. These are pus-filled pockets that form in the gums or around the root of a tooth. They often occur as a result of advanced tooth decay, failing root canal therapy, or even an injury to the mouth. An emergency dentist can drain the abscess, disinfect the affected area and fill or replace the damaged tooth to alleviate a toothache.
Whether it’s an aching tooth, a cracked or broken molar, or the sudden symptoms of an abscess, the sooner you receive treatment, the less damage will occur. If you can’t wait until your dentist’s office opens, a local emergency room might be able to provide temporary relief with medications like antibiotics and pain relievers.