There are times when you absolutely know for sure that you need to visit an emergency dentist. You know, that time you suddenly got the urge to dust off your childhood rollerblades and ended up knocking out a tooth. Or, you bit into hard candy and, with a sinking feeling, realized that you’ve cracked your tooth. These situations are pretty clear. Get yourself to an emergency dentist. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Or put it off another day.
However, there are likely going to be times in everyone’s life in which dental situations arise, and it’s simply not clear whether it’s something that needs to be treated right away or, if you can schedule an appointment at your leisure. Let’s start with this: here are several situations that DO qualify as dental emergencies and need to be treated as such:
- Severe bleeding or trauma to the gums, lips, or tongue
- A knocked-out tooth (whether from rollerblading or something more mundane)
- A broken or lost crown or filling
- A broken or cracked tooth
- If there’s an abscess or signs of infection in your mouth
- A severe toothache or swelling
- Pain that keeps you awake at night or interrupts your daily life
Let’s talk more about when to call an emergency dentist in West Chester and how to handle a dental emergency until you are able to see an emergency dentist.
What To Do During a Dental Emergency
First of all, if you aren’t sure, don’t guess! Call your local emergency dentist and tell them what you’re experiencing. It’s much safer to get a professional opinion about your specific situation than to guess and be wrong. With dental emergencies, the sooner you are able to get care, the more likely you are to have a good outcome.
This is important to note: when you call your emergency dentist in West Chester, ask them what you should do. Their advice, specific to your situation, is always going to be the advice you should follow. But if you are waiting for your appointment, or haven’t been able to get in touch with an emergency dentist yet, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
The following are situations in which you should call an emergency dentist, and also detail what to do if you’re experiencing a dental emergency.
The Scenarios in Which You Should Call an Emergency Dentist
Severe Toothache: This is the kind of toothache that’s keeping you up at night and disrupting your daily life. Rinse your mouth thoroughly with warm water. Carefully use dental floss to remove any food around the toothache. You can use a cold compress on the outside of your mouth or cheek if you have swelling. You can also take over-the-counter pain medications, although be sure to never put painkillers against your gums or teeth, because they can burn your tissue. If you aren’t sure what pain relievers to take or at what strength, ask your dentist.
Knocked-out Tooth: Grab your tooth, but make sure you don’t touch the roots. Only hold it by the crown (the part of your tooth that’s visible in your mouth). Then, carefully rinse off the tooth root with water, but don’t scrub it or remove any tissue. If you aren’t able to gently reinsert your tooth into the socket (the way it was originally positioned), you can put the tooth in a small container of milk. Or, if you don’t have milk, put the tooth in a cup of water with a pinch of table salt. The best chance of saving your tooth is to get yourself and your tooth to the dentist within an hour.
Badly Cracked Tooth: Gently rinse (don’t scrub) broken pieces of your tooth and your mouth with warm water. If your mouth is bleeding, carefully apply a piece of gauze for 10 minutes or so. It may take longer for the bleeding to stop. You can put a cold compress on the outside of your mouth near where your tooth is broken.
Partially Dislodged Tooth: This is definitely a case where you want to get to the dentist as quickly as possible! You can use a cold compress on the outside of your mouth and/or take an over-the-counter pain medication. The most important thing to do in this case is to get to an emergency dentist quickly, so they can make sure your tooth stays in your mouth, where it belongs.
Dental Abscess: A dental abscess is a swollen area that may look like a pimple around the tooth root. Essentially, it’s a localized infection. This is a serious development that can damage tissue and nearby teeth. If you don’t get it treated, it can spread to other parts of your body. This is definitely a case where you want to see a dentist as soon as possible. To ease the pain until you can see a dentist, you may rinse out your mouth with a mild salt-water solution (consisting of ½ teaspoon of table salt in 8 ounces of water) a few times a day.
Broken or Missing Dental Restorations: You may have an old crown or other restoration fall out. If you’re able, put the restoration carefully back in place. You can use over-the-counter dental cement, toothpaste, or denture adhesive to temporarily hold the restoration in place. These are the only things you should use. Don’t use any type of glue! And most importantly, talk to your dentist about this and make an appointment to see them as soon as possible. Ask for their advice about what you should do before you become a dental architect.
Soft Tissue Injury: Injuries to your gums, lips, cheeks, or tongue can bleed a lot. In order to stabilize your injury before seeking help, you can:
- Use a mild salt-water solution to rinse out your mouth
- Use a piece of gauze that’s moistened to apply pressure to the bleeding. Hold firmly in place for 20 minutes or until it stops bleeding.
- Use a cold compress on the outside of your cheek for pain.
If the bleeding won’t stop, go to the emergency room. You might also consider calling your emergency dentist to get their advice. Keep applying pressure to the bleeding until you are able to get professional help. The most important thing is to seek help quickly.
Dealing With an Emergency? Let Us Help!
Having a dental emergency can be scary. It’s difficult to know what to do while you are injured, in pain, or bleeding. After stabilizing your injury or painful area, the best thing you can do is call our friendly staff and tell them what’s happening. They’ll be able to guide you through the decision-making process. We offer same-day emergency dental services, and our number is (513) 772-4000. We’re standing by and ready to help!