A toothache can be a true dental emergency, as can a knocked-out tooth or an injury to the jaw. Recognizing a dental emergency and taking the right steps can prevent further damage and help you feel better quickly. Severe, throbbing nerve pain is an indication of an urgent dental care issue. Other common urgent issues include broken or chipped teeth, loose restorations such as crowns and bridges, and abscesses.
Tooth Pain
Tooth pain can be an emergency, especially when it is severe and unrelenting. Throbbing tooth pain or discomfort that won’t go away is often a sign of an exposed nerve and needs to be treated as soon as possible. Likewise, bleeding that won’t stop or continues to spread from the mouth can quickly lead to more serious dental complications.
Urgent care can help you manage your pain with a variety of tools and techniques. They can guide you on immediate relief strategies and can electronically prescribe stronger medications that you can pick up at your local pharmacy. They can also assist you in scheduling an in-person dental appointment for a more comprehensive examination and long-term treatment options.
In the event that your throbbing tooth pain is caused by a dental abscess, urgent care can promptly drain it and prevent further infection and damage to surrounding teeth and tissues. This process involves making a small incision in the abscess to release pus and relieve pressure.
Knocked-Out Tooth
Knocked-out teeth (also known as avulsed teeth) are one of the most serious dental emergencies and require immediate professional attention. Whether from a sports injury, an altercation, or simply biting down too hard on food, knocked out teeth are a dental trauma that can lead to significant long-term damage if not treated right away.
If you’ve experienced a knocked out tooth, call your dentist immediately and follow the tips below. Rinse the tooth with water to remove any dirt or debris and try to put it back into its socket, if possible, using gentle pressure. If reinsertion isn’t possible, store the tooth in milk or a mild saline solution until you can get to the dentist.
Whether or not you can save your knocked out tooth, prompt treatment can help reduce the risk of complications like shifting teeth and jawbone loss that would otherwise be more difficult to treat down the road. Contact your emergency dentist today in Firestone, Windsor, and Atwater Village to learn more about what you can do to prevent permanent tooth loss!
Cracked or Broken Tooth
A broken or cracked tooth can be painful, especially if it exposes sensitive nerves. But it also can become progressively worse and lead to infection or more significant problems if left untreated. In these cases, urgency dental care can help manage pain effectively while a more permanent solution is planned.
In many cases, a broken tooth can be treated like any other dental injury. It’s recommended to save and rinse any broken pieces of the tooth, apply pressure with a piece of gauze to stop bleeding, and take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (like ibuprofen) to manage pain and reduce swelling.
In some cases, a root canal may be necessary to save the tooth when a significant crack exposes its inner pulp. During this procedure, the dentist cleans and seals the tooth to safeguard against infection and then adds a crown for structural support. This can restore functionality and improve the appearance of the tooth. It’s a much better option than losing the tooth entirely.
Abscess
An abscess is a pus-filled infection at the root tip or inside the pulp chamber of a tooth. It is a serious dental emergency and can cause fever, pain and swelling in the face and jaw. Left untreated, it can spread to the head and neck or other parts of the body resulting in life-threatening medical problems.
A dentist diagnoses a tooth abscess by feeling the area around the affected tooth and tapping it. X-rays help confirm the diagnosis and show the presence of an abscess. The doctor drains the abscess by making a small opening in the skin near the abscess after it has been numbed. Pus is drained from the abscess to reduce swelling and help the body fight the bacteria that caused the infection.
The dentist can also treat the abscess by performing a root canal. The dentist drills down into the tooth, removes the diseased central tissue (pulp) and drains the abscess. The tooth is then filled and capped to prevent re-infection.