Dental patients face dental emergencies throughout their lives, and dental professionals must act quickly to eliminate severe conditions that threaten the patient’s health. A multitude of dental problems present serious consequences for patients if they do not get emergency care.
When assessing a dental emergency, the first concern is the patient’s pain and discomfort levels. Several conditions produce pain, and it is vital to determine what is causing it first. Next, the dental professional explains the best treatment to the patient. In some situations, dental surgery is necessary, and dental professionals will perform the procedure if it is necessary to correct the problem and prevent further pain and other risks.
A Dislodged Tooth
After a tooth is dislodged, the patient should avoid picking it up by the roots as this can damage the tissue. They should grab it from the top of the tooth and clean it gently to remove dirt or debris. Next, they should place the tooth inside a jar of milk to protect the tooth until they can get to the dental office.
The patient has a limited time to get it reinstalled into the tooth socket, and they will need to schedule emergency dental services. Patients can get help with a dental emergency by contacting their preferred dental professional now.
Infected Wisdom Teeth
Infected wisdom teeth present a serious medical emergency for the patients. It can lead to swelling of the mouth and face, and there is a high risk of the infection spreading to the bloodstream. If there is any severe swelling inside the mouth or the face around the wisdom tooth, the patient needs to contact their dental professional for emergency services, or they need to go to the closest emergency room.
Broken or Chipped Tooth
After a tooth is broken or chipped, there is a higher risk of infection, pain, and further tooth damage. At the onset of a cavity, the dental patient must contact their dental professional and schedule an appointment. If they wait too long the cavity will spread further into the tooth and affect the surrounding teeth. Dentist’s drill away the debris and use a composite resin filling to correct the cavity.
An Abscessed Tooth
An abscessed tooth must be irrigated and cleared promptly. An abscess can spread throughout the mouth and affect all the patient’s teeth. Not to mention, the pus oozing from the abscess is nothing short of disgusting. Their dental professional can set up emergency dental procedures to open and drain the abscess.
The dental professional will clean away all debris from the abscess, and they will prescribe antibiotics for the patient. If it is painful, the dentist will provide prescription pain medications to control the patient’s discomfort.
Sudden and Unexplained Tooth or Gum Pain
When a patient experiences sudden and explained pain from a tooth or their gums, this could present them with an emergency situation, too. Even a simple toothache has an underlying cause, and the patient will need to visit their dentist to get a diagnosis. Dental professionals provide an after-hours number for patients to call and set up emergency services.
Typically, the dentist will meet the patient at their office promptly. However, if the emergency happens during business hours, the patients can come to their dentist’s office, and they will work the patient into their existing schedule. If it is a dire emergency, the dentist will get the patient in quickly.
Severe Gum Infection
The gums can become infected and present a medical emergency for the dental patient. Any patient with existing periodontal disease is no stranger to gum infections. The gum disease allows bacteria and food particles to become trapped in pockets around the gums. If the patient doesn’t schedule debridement services regularly, the pockets could fill and cause a serious gum infection that could spread throughout the mouth and damage all surrounding teeth.
With any infection, the dental professional will provide antibiotics. With existing periodontal disease, the patient undergoes more complex cleaning services. The dentist will apply a numbing agent during the procedures. At the onset of an infection in or around the gums, the patient must contact their dental professional for prompt services.
Deep Cavities Exposed Nerves
When a cavity has spread deep inside the tooth, there is a higher probability of nerve exposure. An exposed nerve is incredibly painful for the patient, and it must be managed quickly to eliminate their discomfort. Under the circumstances, the dentist will perform a root canal surgery.
The procedure involves the removal of the tooth pulp and nerve. The dentist will clean out the tooth and inject a composite resin into the tooth then seal it off completely. Some dental professionals install a crown to provide an extra barrier over the tooth and protect it against further damage.
Impacted Wisdom Tooth
An impacted wisdom tooth can become incredibly painful and increase the risk of an infection. When a wisdom tooth has become impacted, it will not erupt through the gum line completely, and a gum pocket will form. Inside the gum pocket, bacteria will accumulate and create an infection.
Impacted wisdom teeth often break through part of the gum line because they are crooked, and this presents a degree of difficulty in extracting it, and the patient will need to undergo dental surgery to have it removed properly. After a wisdom tooth extraction, the patient must keep the tooth socket packed to prevent a dry socket, and they will take antibiotics and pain medication.
Dental patients will face dental emergencies at different stages of life. As a child, there is a higher risk of cavities and breakage. As they age, they may develop severe conditions such as periodontal disease if they do not follow proper hygiene requirements.
Accidents often happen, and this can lead to chipped or broken teeth, and some patients may experience a dislodged tooth. Dental emergencies require fast services to eliminate pain and discomfort. The presence of an infection could also present life-threatening circumstances. Dental professionals provide a wealth of emergency services to address sudden dental problems and protect the patient’s teeth and gums.