10 Types of Dental Emergencies: What Is the Proper Way to Act?

Dental patients face dental emergencies during different stages of life, and it is best for them to know what to do when these emergencies arise. By knowing what to do, the patients could decrease the risk of tooth loss and get the professional assistance they need faster.

1. Dislodged Tooth

A dislodged tooth happens with any forceful impact on the mouth or teeth. The patient must clean dirt off the tooth easily without disturbing the gum tissue and place the tooth in a container of milk. They should contact their dentist as they have a limited amount of time to reinsert it. When dealing with a dental emergency, the patient should contact the after-hours number for their dentist if the office is closed.

2. Impacted Wisdom Tooth

An impacted wisdom tooth could present a sudden emergency because of the pain it causes. However, if the tooth is not infected or isn’t abscessed, the patient should take pain relievers and schedule an appointment with their dentist.

3. Abscess or Infection

An abscessed or infected tooth must be managed promptly. The infection could travel into the bloodstream and present a life-threatening situation. The patient should set up an after-hours appointment with their dentist or visit an ER immediately.

4. Chipped or Broken Tooth

A chipped or broken tooth could present a dental emergency since bacteria can get inside the tooth, and the fracture could increase pain and discomfort for the patient. If the patient is in severe pain, they should contact their dental professional.

5. Throbbing Toothache

With a toothache, it depends on whether the tooth is infected and how painful it is. With a toothache, the dental professional may recommend OTC pain relievers and oral pain-relieving gels until the patient can come to the dental office. If there are any signs of infection, they may have a high-risk emergency.

6. Soft Tissue or Tongue Injury

A simple cut will require the patient to use gauze and pressure to stop the bleeding. For example, if a child bit their tongue or lip during an accident, the injury may not be severe, and it could heal on its own. However, more profound damage requires a trip to the dentist.

7. Painful Canker Sores

Painful canker sores are only an emergency if the patient cannot get proper nutrition because of the sores, if they are dehydrated, or have a fever. If their fever is excessively high and OTC medications cannot lower it, the patient needs to visit the ER.

8. A Lost Filling

If the patient losing a filling, it could become incredibly painful. They must clean the tooth and keep debris out of it until they can set up a dental appointment. By placing gauze over the filling, the patient prevents air from entering the tooth and causing pain.

9. Broken Dental Crown

A broken dental crown could present an emergency if the tooth has also broken or if the patient underwent root canal surgery recently. An emergency trip to the dentist could give them a temporary crown to prevent discomfort.

10. Dry Socket

A dry socket happens most often after wisdom extraction surgery. It does require the patient to set up emergency services to have it corrected as it is incredibly painful.

Dental patients experience dental emergencies throughout their lives and even the most careful patients are at risk of tooth loss. When reviewing common dental emergencies, patients learn what steps to take to protect their teeth and gums, and they also learn when a dental issue could become life-threatening.