Dental emergencies can arise at any time. Dental trauma resulting from a sports accident, a severe toothache, and a knocked-out tooth are three common examples. If you experience a dental emergency, you may worry that you cannot receive the care you need.
Fortunately, Chagrin Falls Dental offers business-day and after-hours assistance for patients with dental emergencies. This blog presents a step-by-step guide to caring for dental emergencies.
Step 1: Assess Your Emergency
When deciding how best to treat a dental emergency, it is vital to know whether your problem needs dental attention or a visit to the emergency room. If you have severe facial trauma, including broken bones, heavy bleeding, numbness in your face, or any other concerning or life-threatening symptoms, go directly to the emergency room or call 911 for care.
Step 2: Call Your Dentist
Next, call your family dentist. Many practices like Chagrin Falls Dental offer same-day appointments and after-hours care if needed. Your dentist will provide instructions on what to do before coming to the office.
Step 3: Provide Appropriate Dental First Aid
Your dentist will let you know what steps you should take. Here are first-aid tips for the most common dental emergencies:
Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth
The most crucial step for a knocked-out tooth is to find it and preserve it. If the tooth is dirty, rinse it gently, holding it only by the crown to avoid damaging the root cells. If possible, gently place the tooth back in the socket.
If you can’t fit the tooth back in the socket, a small cup of milk or saline solution can protect the delicate tooth for a short time until you can see the dentist. If you see the dentist within an hour, you will have the best chance of replanting your tooth.
Knocked-Out Baby Tooth
Unfortunately, dentists cannot replant baby teeth due to their structure and the potential to damage the permanent tooth underneath. However, if your child experiences a knocked-out tooth, your family dentist may want to see them on an emergency basis to check for damage.
Toothache
If your toothache hurts so much that you can’t eat, sleep, or relax, consider it an emergency. You may need a root canal or another prompt dental procedure, like an extraction.
Try rinsing your mouth with warm salt water to soothe it. If you feel something lodged between your teeth, try using dental floss to remove it. Be gentle when flossing this area.
To help control swelling and discomfort, put a cold compress on the outside of your cheek. You can also take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication.
Broken Tooth
If you break a tooth beyond a simple chip, see your dentist right away. A broken tooth could introduce bacteria into the pulp chamber, causing an infection.
Broken Orthodontic Appliance
If your child’s braces break, cover the sharp edges with orthodontic wax to prevent oral injury and call their practitioner immediately.
Situations That Are Typically Not Emergencies
- Chipped teeth
- Lost or broken crown or filling unless causing severe pain
- Dull toothaches can wait for office hours in most cases
Coping With Dental Emergencies
The best time to find an emergency dentist is before you need one. When considering a new dental practice for your family, you may wish to see a dentist who accepts calls after hours and provides same-day appointments.
If you do experience an emergency dental problem, follow the steps outlined here and the directions given by your dentist. This guidance will help you in this difficult time and protect your future oral health.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Emergencies
Is a lost crown an emergency?
Generally, a lost crown can wait until the next business day unless it causes extreme discomfort.
What happens if I vertically crack a tooth?
If the break goes below the gumline, your dentist will assess whether the tooth can be saved or needs to be extracted.
Call Chagrin Falls Dental
If you experience a dental emergency, be reassured that your dentist will take care of you to the best of their ability. If you are in the local area and need emergency care, please contact our Chagrin Falls, OH, office at 440-247-8641 today.