There were more than 2 million visits to the emergency department for dental-related emergencies in 2018. Dental emergencies are quite common and can be overwhelming if you don’t know how to treat the issue.
Learning more about common dental emergencies will help you learn when you need to get professional care. Do you want to learn more about the most common reasons why you need to visit an emergency dentist?
Keep reading this guide for everything you need to know about the most common dental emergencies.
1. Knocked-Out Tooth
One of the most common dental emergencies that you need to get treated is a knocked-out tooth. This can happen while playing sports or during any other accident and can cause serious pain.
When you knock out an adult tooth, there is a chance that your dentist will be able to reattach your tooth. You need to act quickly in these situations if you want to be able to save your tooth and avoid needing a dental implant.
If you lose one of your adult teeth, make sure you pick it up by the crown and rinse it clean. If you are able to reinsert it into your socket, this can protect the roots until your dentist is able to reattach the tooth.
Otherwise, you can put your tooth in a glass of milk to keep the roots moist.
2. Serious Chips or Fractures
While many people will chip small parts of their teeth off, having large chips or fractures on your teeth is a dental emergency that you need to treat. In many cases, the chip or fracture can run all the way to the inside of your tooth and affect the nerves.
This can be quite painful and can lead to damaged or inflamed pulp. In these cases, your dentist may need to perform a root canal. Otherwise, they can simply create a crown to replace the missing part of your tooth.
3. Bleeding Gums
Bleeding gums are another common dental emergency. A small amount of bleeding shouldn’t be too concerning. However, if you notice that your gums are constantly bleeding and painful to touch, this could be a sign of gum disease.
Your dentist can help you identify the cause of your bleeding gums and will be able to stop the bleeding before you lose more blood.
4. Dental Abscess
A dental abscess is due to an infection at the root of your tooth beneath your gums. Often, these infections are caused by tooth decay or gum disease.
The abscess will form a pocket of pus and can lead to many uncomfortable symptoms.
These include throbbing pain in your mouth, discomfort with hot or cold temperatures, swelling, and even a foul odor or taste in your mouth. If you have an abscess, you need to get it treated by a dental professional to prevent the infection from spreading to other areas.
Your dentist can drain the pus from your abscess and will determine a further course of treatment. This may include a root canal or even a tooth extraction in serious cases.
5. Severe Tooth Pain
If you have a serious toothache that will not go away, you may need to visit your emergency dentist. This is because constant tooth pain can be a sign of a larger dental problem, like serious tooth decay, infected pulp, and more.
You should also be concerned if you experience sudden tooth pain with no prior sensitivity. Visiting an emergency dentist can help you get to the root of this pain. This way, you will be able to find the most effective treatment for your toothache.
Plus, they may be able to provide you with treatments or medications to help you manage the pain.
6. Damaged Dental Work
Many people need to visit their emergency dentist if they have damaged their dental work. For example, you may have damaged your tooth restoration, like a bridge or a crown.
Whether these have chipped or even popped off of your natural tooth, you need to work with a dentist to get them repaired as quickly as possible. This way, you can prevent complications with your dental work and can get your mouth back to normal as quickly as possible.
Other common issues with dental work include loose crowns, missing dental fillings, and more.
7. Soft Tissue Injuries
Finally, you may need to visit an emergency dentist if you have soft tissue injuries. Soft tissues in your mouth include your lips, cheeks, gums, and your tongue.
These injuries can happen easily, especially if you bite down on your soft tissues. Soft tissue injuries can also lead to a lot of bleeding, so it is best to visit the dentist to get help with your injuries.
If you experience a soft tissue injury, you should first rinse your mouth with salt water. This will prevent debris from getting lodged in the wound and can prevent infection. You should also place pressure on bleeding areas until you are able to meet with your dentist.
If the bleeding will not stop, your dentist can suture the wound.
Need Help Treating Dental Emergencies? Visit an Emergency Dentist Today
When you are dealing with a dental emergency, getting the proper treatment as quickly as possible is necessary to help you reduce your pain and promote healing. Learning more about these common dental emergencies will help you know when you need to visit an emergency dentist.
If you are looking for options for dentists, Brentwood Dental Spa can help. We provide everything from emergency dental care to cosmetic dentistry and more.
Contact our office today to schedule an appointment and for help improving dental health.