There are several types of dental emergencies.
If, for example you are experiencing severe bleeding and swelling, your best option is to call 911 or to head to the nearest hospital emergency room.
For the most part though, dental emergencies are not life threatening. But it may involve severe pain. If you are experiencing any sort of dental problem that affects your ability to function normally, you need to call us right away so we can provide the necessary treatment and relief.
Common emergencies include having permanent teeth knocked out, loosened or forced out of position, or fractured.
Meeting a dentist within a half-hour can be the deciding factor on whether the tooth can be saved.
Usually these problems also involve a cut to the lips, cheeks, and gums. The pain can be so excruciating that you need to call us right away so we can provide the same Day Emergency Dentist to take care of the problem.
- If a tooth is knocked out, call us ASAP. We may be able to put it back in the socket. Handle the knocked out tooth by the crown, and rinse (not scrub) it in water to remove the dirt. It’s crucial that the tooth should not dry out. If it’s possible, the tooth should be gently placed back in the socket. If not, wrap the tooth in a clean gauze or cloth and moisten it with saliva or milk (not water).
- If the tooth is loosened out of position, use light finger pressure to put it back in its proper alignment. Just make sure you don’t force the tooth back. When it has been repositioned correctly, bite down gently to keep it from moving. Call us to fix the problem.
- If the tooth has been fractured, rinse your mouth with warm water. Apply cold compress or an ice pack to reduce the swelling. You can take ibuprofen for the pain, but not aspirin. Aspirin is an anticoagulant, and it can cause profuse bleeding in your teeth and gums. Call for an appointment so we can determine the right course of treatment based on the severity of the fracture.
- If the lips, cheeks, or tongue has been cut, clean the wound with warm water.
All of these emergencies must be treated as quickly as possible, by emergency dentists in Wilmington dental professionals at Coastal Smiles Family Dentist with the right training and experience. Give us a call now.