If you have a dental emergency the first call you make should be to your dentist’s office. Most dentist keep time in their schedules to deal with patient emergencies some even make arrangements to see patient after hours. For situations like broken teeth getting to the dentist right away can mean the difference between saving your tooth and losing it. What constitutes an emergency? What needs to be seen by a dentist right away and what can wait? Here are some tips on managing your dental emergency.
Toothaches
This is the most common reason patients head to the dentist, it is generally caused by an infection. If you try and ignore it it will only get worse until it becomes abscessed. You want to make an appointment with your dentist right away to get some antibiotics and you can follow up later in a few days and have the right procedure done. In the meantime you can manage the pain with some over the counter pain relief.
Broken or Chipped Teeth
Broken or chipped teeth happen fairly often to athletes who should have been wearing a mouth guard. Call your dentist right away, especially if you’re in pain or the tooth is sensitive to air or liquids. If you have to wait a day or two to see your dentist, keep an eye out for swelling in the gums around the tooth or the tooth itself getting darker. These symptoms can indicate that you have some nerve damage and you should call the dentist for an immediate appointment.
Teeth that Have Been Knocked Out
If you have had one of your permanent teeth knocked out you need to get to the nearest dentist right away, it is your best chance of saving your tooth. When searching for a dentist to assist you, it is best to search for an emergency dentist such as emergency dentist Tucson. These dentists or dental centers are specialized in providing an examination and determining the extent of the injury as well as what procedures are the best fit. If the dentist can get the tooth re-inserted within an hour it may be saved. In the meantime you want to put gauze in your mouth to stop the bleeding. If you have the tooth pick it up without touching the roots or you risk damaging it. Rinse the tooth with water to remove any dirt and try and put it back into the socket. If the tooth won’t stay in the socket you will need to keep it from drying out. Either hold it in your mouth until you get to the dentist or place it in milk until you reach the dentist.
Breaking Your Jaw
There is a good chance that if you break your jaw then you will damage your teeth but in this case your dentist is not your first call. Get yourself to the emergency room first. From there, depending on how serious the break is you will be referred to an oral surgeon who will stabilize your jaw and make recommendations for your dentist.
When it comes to dental emergencies the first thing you need to establish is whether it is an emergency and how it should be treated. From there you want to call Emergency Dentist Tucson and let them know you have an emergency so they can get you in as soon as possible.
