In most cases, if you experience a dental emergency, it will likely be best to visit your local emergency dentist rather than the emergency room. Emergency rooms can help triage your situation and stop the bleeding, but they are not trained to treat teeth-related problems.
The most common dental emergencies include toothaches, broken or knocked out teeth, and jaw injuries. If you are experiencing any of these, you should seek treatment as soon as possible.
Toothaches
Tooth pain is one of the most common dental emergencies, and it can be caused by a wide range of issues. It may feel sharp or dull and can come and go or be constant. It can also be triggered by hot or cold food or drinks, or it can happen when a filling or crown comes loose. The pain can also be a sign of an abscessed tooth, and other symptoms include swelling of the gums, fever and foul-tasting drainage from the affected area.
An emergency dentist will examine your mouth and take x-rays to find the cause of your pain. They will then treat the underlying problem. If the tooth is infected, they may prescribe antibiotics and/or root canal therapy. They can also provide a temporary filling to ease the pain. If you have a knocked out tooth, they can replace it in its socket if they can do so within the proper timeframe, and they will splint it to help keep it in place.
Visiting an emergency dentist will usually cost more than a trip to your regular dentist, but they are trained to deal with emergencies and can save you money in the long run. It is also a good idea to find out which local dentists offer emergency services and make sure you have their details on hand in case an incident occurs.
Broken Teeth
Although teeth are very strong, they can still break or crack under certain circumstances. This can occur due to a blow to the mouth or face, biting down on hard foods, or grinding and clenching your teeth. If the crack extends to the root of the tooth, it is considered a dental emergency and must be treated as soon as possible.
If you experience a cracked or broken tooth, it is important to rinse your mouth and any remaining fragments of the tooth with lukewarm water and apply a cold compress to the area until you can see your dentist. If you are able, reinsert the tooth into its socket and hold it in place with a piece of gauze or a clean cloth. Otherwise, keep the tooth in a cup of milk or water until you see your dentist.
Our dental experts will first attempt to repair your broken or cracked tooth, but if that is not possible, we will remove the troubled tooth and provide you with a bridge or crown. We will also discuss the best way to treat any underlying problems that may have contributed to the emergency, such as tooth decay or gum disease. Our office offers a number of different payment options, including a sliding fee scale, and we will work with your insurance provider if you have one.
Knocked Out Teeth
When you or your child suffers a knocked out tooth, it is a dental emergency.
Whether the tooth gets knocked out due to a sports injury, car accident or an accidental fall, it is important that you act quickly to preserve the tooth’s chance for long-term survival. Knocked out teeth need to be reinserted into their socket within the first five minutes of being knocked out in order to have any chance for success.
The first step is to pick up the tooth by its crown and avoid touching the root, as doing so can cause permanent damage to the tooth. If the tooth is dirty, rinse it by putting it in a glass of milk (if possible) or water. Alternatively, you can try placing the tooth back in the socket but be sure to hold it firmly in place with a handkerchief or tissue and bite down gently on it.
If a knocked out tooth cannot be reinserted, you should bring the tooth in a cup of milk or water to the dentist’s office or ask the person to spit into a bowl and store it that way until you see an Emergency Dentist in Columbus OH. Be sure to let the doctor know if the tooth came in contact with dirt so that an antibiotic can be prescribed and to evaluate tetanus immunization status.
Jaw Injuries
A broken jaw can be caused by a blow to the face, sports injuries or even biting down on hard foods. Pain, swelling, a change in the way the teeth fit together and an inability to open the mouth are all signs that the jaw is broken. It is important to visit an Emergency Dentist in Columbus OH so that the bones can be restored and any infections prevented.
X-rays are usually done to diagnose a jaw fracture, and sometimes computed tomography is also needed to detect these types of fractures. The treatment for these fractures may include putting in a metal plate or screw to hold the jaw in place, using a wire to keep the lower part of the jaw in place and giving antibiotics to prevent infection.
If the fracture is serious, surgery to restore the position of the bone may be needed. In addition, the patient must avoid opening the mouth widely and must support the upper part of the jaw when yawning or swallowing. Pain medicines and ice can help decrease the pain and swelling. After the jaw is repaired, it will be important to clean the teeth 4 or 6 times each day, especially to remove pieces of food from between the teeth. The healthcare provider can show the person how to do this.