A dental emergency is a situation in which you need immediate dental care. Dental emergencies can occur at any time, day or night. Some of the common dental emergencies include:

Toothache

If you have a toothache, you should call your dentist as soon as possible to make an appointment. If you wait before calling the dentist, you could wind up with an infection that requires more extensive treatment than a simple filling. You may also end up needing a root canal if the infection is left untreated. Many things can cause a toothache. Some of the most common are cavities and abscesses. Other possible causes include broken teeth, gum disease, jaw problems such as temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), and even sinus problems.

Broken Tooth

A broken tooth can be painful and should be treated immediately. If the break is only in the enamel of the tooth, treatment can be as simple as smoothing the area with a piece of sandpaper. If this doesn’t alleviate the pain, or if the pulp is exposed, we may need to place a crown over the tooth in order to restore it. If it’s a permanent tooth, then root canal therapy may also be necessary.

Bitten Tongue/Lip

A bitten tongue or lip can cause a large amount of pain, even causing bleeding in some cases. If the bite is severe enough, it can cause damage to the soft tissues inside the mouth, including the tongue and lips. This can lead to infection if not treated correctly.

Knocked Out Tooth

If your tooth is knocked out, keep the root and handle it by the crown to avoid damaging the sensitive tissue inside. Rinse the tooth with warm water and gently try to fit it back into the socket. If you’re unable to place the tooth back in the socket, store it in a glass of milk or salt water solution until you can come to see us. If the tooth is not salvageable, you’ll need to consider getting a dental implant to replace it.

Cracked Tooth

If you’ve bitten down on something hard and your tooth has cracked, rinse your mouth with warm water to wash away any debris. If you notice that a piece of your crown has broken off entirely, take the piece with you to your appointment. The bonding material on your crown can typically be repaired in one visit, and the appointment can be made faster than getting an entirely new crown. However, if your tooth has been severely damaged, a new dental crown may be needed.

Wish to learn more dental care tips from the experts? Call Short & Vlosich Family Dental at (806) 374-8011 or schedule an appointment online.