A dental emergency is a condition that needs immediate treatment. Although most people would realize a broken or knocked-out tooth is a dental emergency, many
don't realize that a toothache with severe pain and facial swelling may also require emergency treatment.
(See the American Dental Association's Short Video on Dental Emergencies: Broadband | Dial up)
(See the American Dental Association's Short Video on What If an Object Gets Caught Between Your Teeth?: Broadband | Dial up)
What are symptoms of a serious dental injury?
When to go to the dentist immediately (serious emergencies)
When to go to the dentist promptly (minor emergencies)
Remember, seek emergency dental care if you have dental pain accompanied by any of the following:
don't realize that a toothache with severe pain and facial swelling may also require emergency treatment.
(See the American Dental Association's Short Video on Dental Emergencies: Broadband | Dial up)
(See the American Dental Association's Short Video on What If an Object Gets Caught Between Your Teeth?: Broadband | Dial up)
What are symptoms of a serious dental injury?
- Severe toothache and jaw pain
- Pain when chewing or experiencing a change in temperature
- Facial swelling
- Isolated bleeding from a particular area of the mouth
- A change in tooth color, which may take place over time
- Obvious pus from infection around the gum area
- Difficulty breathing
When to go to the dentist immediately (serious emergencies)
Severe pain: Severe dental pain is a sure sign of injury or infection -- a signal telling you to see a dentist right away. The cause of severe pain in the mouth
can be an injury, infection, abscess, broken tooth, or a reaction to recent dental work. In any of these cases, your dentist must assess whether you need
antibiotics or other medication, and whether any dental procedures -- including root canal work -- need to be done right away.
Persistent bleeding: If your mouth won't stop bleeding even after applying pressure and cold compresses, see your dentist immediately. Persistent bleeding
can lead to nausea and panic in children, and it generally signals a deeper wound or more complex injury.
Broken tooth: If you've fractured a tooth but haven't exposed the dentin (the more fragile inner layer of the tooth) and you're not in a lot of pain, you can wait a
day or two to get to the dentist's office. But if the crack has gone deeper, reaching the underlying dentin or pulp, or second layer, you're likely to feel increasing
pain and should see a dentist immediately. Dead pulp tissue quickly decays, causing serious abscess or infection. If the pulp, or nerve center of the tooth,
isn't protected, it may mean root canal therapy is indicated to save the tooth.
Knocked-out tooth: Even if you've just fallen on your face or taken the brunt of a baseball bat, if you have dislodged a tooth, it's important to keep your wits
about you. Whether or not your tooth will successfully be re-implanted is directly related to how quickly you're able to get to the dentist.
When a tooth gets knocked out, find it immediately. If it's still in your mouth, be careful not to poke or push your other teeth -- you may unwittingly cause further
damage to teeth that are loose or cracked but not dislodged. Be very careful to handle only the crown (the part of the tooth that is normally visible) and not the
root (the part of the tooth usually hidden by the gum). Try to place it in a container of milk or a saline solution. If neither of these is on hand, you can tuck the
knocked-out tooth between your cheek and gum (being careful not to swallow it) and transport it to the dentist that way.
Never scrub the tooth, because you may damage living root and connective tissue. A knocked-out tooth has the best odds of being re-implanted if you get to a
dentist's office and have the tooth placed back in the socket within 30 minutes. Even if more time has elapsed, don't hesitate to see a dentist, because you
may still be able to save the tooth.
Significant injuries to the cheeks, lip or tongue: Slight cuts from accidentally biting your tongue or cheek, or minor burns from gulping hot coffee or eating a
baked potato or hot pizza before it cools are nothing to get excited about. You can simply rinse the injured area with warm water and keep it clean. But deeper
cuts, tears, punctures, or burns should be treated right away in a hospital emergency room or urgent care clinic, as you may need stitches or further
treatment. An emergency medical technician should immediately treat punctures or lacerations that have penetrated the mouth.
When to go to the dentist promptly (minor emergencies)
A lost or broken filling: If it's painful, use an over-the-counter pain medication such as ibuprofen until you can see your dentist. Make sure to brush and floss
to remove any bits of food that might slip into cracked fillings or open cavities and cause inflammation. Visit your dentist promptly to stop the infection from
setting in.
Chipped tooth: This is by far the most common mouth injury. Chipping a tooth usually means you've knocked off a small piece of enamel, but doing so is no
reason to panic. If the dentin has been exposed, the injury may cause discomfort or sensitivity to heat or cold. For pain, take an over-the-counter pain reliever
and then call your dentist. Try to be seen as soon as possible so the fracture will not deepen. The dentist can determine if the tooth needs to be capped or
filled, and make sure the fracture has not deepened.
- Make sure our telephone number is readily available. If office is closed, you will be provided with an emergency phone number to reach one of our dentists.
Know what hospital emergency room you will choose if you have a severe emergency or can't get to a dentist. - Use mouth guards, helmets, and face masks when playing sports. Make sure your child's coach or sports group leader knows how to handle dental
emergencies. - If you or your child have dental caps, bridges, dentures, or implants, note it on your emergency ID card.
- Avoid eating and drinking in a moving car, and always use your safety belt
Medical emergencies take priority over dental ones. If a patient is unconscious or having trouble breathing, get to a hospital first, and call your dentist later.
Anyone who is unconscious or semiconscious with a dental trauma must be watched, and should never be left unattended. Remove any dental apparatus
from inside your mouth -- that means dentures, removable braces, retainers, mouth guards, and dental jewelry on pierced lips or tongue.
What if I've been in an accident and have a dental emergency?
Once you've been to the hospital emergency care center and it's been determined that yours is a dental and not a medical emergency, you can see one of our
dentists for an emergency exam. At the hospital, a dentist or doctor will account for any missing teeth and will take stock of the injury to your jaw, nerves and
tissues. A technician will take an x-ray of your mouth, and if the dentist suspects that a tooth has been swallowed, x-rays of the neck or chest may also be
ordered. Depending on the injury, he or she may also refer you to an endodontist or to a dental or plastic surgeon for further treatment.
Remember, seek emergency dental care if you have dental pain accompanied by any of the following:
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent bleeding in the mouth
- Severe pain in the mouth or jaws
- Facial swelling and inflammation
| If you have facial swelling and are having difficulty breathing, call 911 or get to an emergency room right away. |
Disclaimer - This site is designed for general
information and educational purposes only.
The information on this site is not intended to
diagnose or treat any specific dental or
medical ailment. Consulting one of our dentist
for a thorough examination is the best way to
diagnose any dental ailment.
information and educational purposes only.
The information on this site is not intended to
diagnose or treat any specific dental or
medical ailment. Consulting one of our dentist
for a thorough examination is the best way to
diagnose any dental ailment.
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| Gentle, Quality, and Affordable Dental Care by Best Dentists in Woodbury of Minnesota ( MN 55125 and MN 55129 ) Eagle Valley Dental . 2110 Eagle Creek Lane, Woodbury, MN 55129 . Phone: 651-998-1008 . Fax: 651-998-1009 |