What is a Dental Emergency?
We never think it’s going to happen to us, but when you’re faced with a dental emergency, would you know what to do? Dental emergencies cover a range of accidents involving your teeth or mouth such as a toothache, bleeding, infections, and swelling. They often cause severe pain and some may be life-threatening if not treated immediately. So, what is considered a dental emergency and what can you do to help ensure the health of your teeth and gums when it occurs?
Chips, Fractures & Cracks
If you’ve chipped your tooth but there’s no pain, you don’t necessarily need to book an emergency dental appointment. However, chipped and fractured teeth present a serious dental issue as they typically indicate damage both internally and externally so it’s important to book an appointment as soon as possible, particularly for severe fractures. If you have a cracked tooth, clean your mouth with warm water and keep any swelling down with a cold compress.
Toothache
While minor toothaches can be treated with painkillers, there are some signs to look out for that may constitute a dental emergency such as high fever and swollen gums. You may also experience pain in the jaw, head, or ear.
A very common cause of toothache is wisdom tooth pain. Dr Kelly Tse and the Tooth Crusader team are very experienced with helping our patients with this type of pain. Wisdom tooth remove is a very common option and can give you immediate relief. If you are suffering for pain from your wisdom tooth please call us straight away, as there is no need to suffer.
Knocked Out Tooth
Whether from a fall, a sport, or an accident, losing a tooth is always considered a dental emergency but did you know that the tooth can often be saved and replaced in the mouth if you handle the situation carefully and make it to the dentist within half an hour of the incident? If you suffer an injury where your tooth is knocked out, but you can find the tooth, it’s important to handle the top of the tooth (the white part you normally see outside the gum) and never touch the roots or remove any tissue fragments. You can rinse the tooth in milk or contact lens saline solution if it is covered in dirt. If this has happened you do need to see a dentist as quick as possible. It may be possible to save your tooth, but with care we can avoid other issues or infections.
Abscesses
Dental abscesses are pus-filled swellings caused by an infection inside a tooth, trauma to the tooth, or an infection of the gum. They are always considered a dental emergency as the infection could spread to the jaw and surrounding tissue. Abscesses can cause a high fever, a swollen face, consistent toothache, swollen glands in the neck and nausea. A warm saltwater rinse may help clean out your mouth and alleviate some pain until you can book your emergency dental appointment with our team at Tooth Crusader.
Lip, Cheek, or Gum Injury & Bleeding
If you notice that your gums are bleeding consistently, Please make an appointment so we can check out what is going on with a
dental examination where we can determine if this is due to minor irritation or a significant health issue. A warm saltwater rinse can clean your mouth, reduce bacteria, and can help ease bleeding.
CONTACT US
Dental emergencies can happen to anyone at any time and can be very overwhelming so it’s essential to know what steps to take to prevent further deterioration of your oral health. If you or someone in your care is experiencing any pain, swelling, numbness, or discolouration of the gums near the teeth, call our team at Tooth Crusader today on (02) 8097 1838.