Depending on the nature of your dental emergency, you may need to visit a 24-hour dental clinic or hospital emergency room for prompt treatment. Fortunately, a variety of online directories make it easy to find Emergency dental care services near you. Emergency dentists provide prompt, effective care for all types of dental emergencies and can help you avoid costly and painful complications down the road.
Not all hospital emergency rooms are equipped to handle dental issues, but many private practices offer this service.
Time is of the Essence
A dental emergency like a severe toothache or broken tooth requires immediate care to prevent further complications and minimize long-term consequences. Delaying treatment can lead to infections, increased pain, and more expensive and invasive treatments down the line.
If you’re experiencing an urgent dental issue, there are steps you can take to manage the pain and avoid further damage until you can get to a dentist. Rinsing with warm saltwater, applying a cold compress to reduce swelling, and taking over-the-counter pain medication as directed can help alleviate discomfort until you can receive professional treatment.
Knocked Out Teeth
Having a knocked out tooth is one of the most common dental emergencies. It is important to see a dentist immediately as it may be possible to save the tooth. It is best if the tooth can be reimplanted within 30 minutes of being knocked out. This is especially true for adult permanent teeth, but baby teeth can also be reimplanted successfully. Handle the tooth carefully when picking it up, and only touch the crown (chewing surface) and not the root.
Be sure to keep the tooth moist, preferably in its socket or between your gum and cheek. If that is not possible, store it in milk or in a tooth preservation kit (such as Save-A-Tooth). It’s also important to let the dentist know what you have taken for pain, if any. It can impact the outcome of your treatment. Hospital emergency rooms are usually not equipped to treat dental emergencies, but they can help by stopping bleeding and providing symptomatic relief.
Abscessed Teeth
Usually caused by bacteria related to bad dental hygiene, tooth decay, or a failed root canal treatment, an abscessed tooth can cause serious health issues. Tooth infections can lead to heart, lung, and brain disease and can even be life-threatening.
Tooth abscesses are painful because of dead inner tissue that can no longer function. The pain can be throbbing and intense and may radiate into the jaw or neck. A swollen face and jaw, discolored teeth, dental trauma that was not properly treated, facial erythema, trismus, fever, and dysphagia are signs of a potential abscess.
An abscessed tooth requires immediate care from a dentist or endodontist to be drained. In the meantime, a patient can use warm water rinses and over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) to help relieve pain. A doctor may also prescribe antibiotics to prevent the infection from spreading. A rudimentary incision into the swollen area or a root canal will drain the pus and end the infection.
Broken Teeth
Serious tooth pain, swelling, bleeding and broken teeth require immediate attention. These symptoms, along with a fever and/or pus, indicate an infection that needs to be treated as soon as possible.
If you experience a severe toothache, apply an ice pack to the affected area of the mouth to ease pain and reduce swelling. If a jagged-edged break occurs, cover it with dental wax or a small amount of water to prevent further damage. If the tooth is knocked out, rinse it to remove any food debris and place it back into its socket if you can — only hold the tooth by the crown, not the root. Call your dentist’s office for instructions.
An emergency appointment can save cracked and broken teeth from permanent damage, a worsening of symptoms, and more costly and invasive treatments down the road. Stay calm and follow these tips for treating a dental emergency until you can get in to see your dentist.