4 Common Dental Emergencies

When you have a dental emergency, it can be hard to know exactly what to do. Prepare yourself for these situations by learning about four common dental emergencies and how to handle them.

Dental emergencies are common. They can be caused by a sporting mishap, a car accident, or a host of other reasons. Establishing a relationship with a dentist when you aren’t having an emergency is important, so you’ll know where to go when you suddenly have an issue.

At Affordable Dental East, our skilled and caring dentist, Ben Mohrman, DDS, is here to serve you during dental emergencies or just for routine care. In this blog, we go over four common dental emergencies and what you should do if you encounter one of them.

Planning for emergencies

If you have a dental emergency, you’ll likely be stressed and in pain. It’s important to have a plan and know what to do, so in that moment you won’t have to think about how to proceed. Here are four common dental emergencies and what you should do.

1. Broken, cracked, or knocked-out tooth

A sudden blow to your mouth caused by a sports injury or fall could cause a tooth to crack, break, or come out. If any of these things happen, visit us as soon as possible for emergency dental care.

If your tooth has been knocked out, you might be able to save it. First, rinse your mouth and the tooth with clean water, but avoid touching the roots of the tooth. If possible, put it back in its socket and gently press down on it with a piece of gauze until you get to our office. If you can’t put it back in, place it in a container of whole milk until you arrive.

2. Loose tooth

If a tooth becomes loose — you can feel movement when touching it with your tongue or finger — call us immediately to set up an emergency dental appointment. Getting it assessed and treated as soon as you can is essential to ensuring the best outcome possible.

3. Intense pain

If you’re experiencing intense dental pain, you may have trouble focusing on anything, including sleeping. Intense pain is a sign that something is wrong, and it likely won’t go away on its own. Call us to set up an emergency dental appointment so we can relieve your pain and provide treatment for whatever’s causing it.

4. Bleeding or swelling of gums or tongue

If your tongue or gums get cut or become swollen, or if they start bleeding for an unknown reason, you should call us right away, and we’ll advise you on your next steps. If needed, fast treatment can help preserve your dental health and relieve discomfort.

A dental emergency is an issue that starts suddenly and causes you distress. There’s no reason to delay treatment, which could make things worse. If you experience a dental emergency, call us right away. And if you’re not sure if it’s a dental emergency, call us anyway and we’ll advise you on what to do.

To learn more, contact us to find out if dental implants are right for you. To request an appointment, call our friendly office staff or book online.