WHAT’S A DENTAL EMERGENCY?
Before you head to our dental office because you have a toothache, it’s important to know what actually qualifies as a dental emergency. Usually, a dental emergency is any type of dental problem that causes severe pain, discomfort, or bleeding. We also consider signs of infection as an emergency. What isn’t an emergency is a minor toothache, or a lost crown or filling. Emergencies require immediate attention and those problems can wait a few days if necessary. To help you decide if your dental problem is in fact an emergency, we’ve compiled a list of possible dental emergencies and how to handle them.
DISLODGED/KNOCKED-OUT TOOTH
One of the most serious types of dental emergencies is when a tooth gets hit by so much pressure that it becomes dislodged or knocked out. If the tooth becomes dislodged, your first action should be putting gauze or a towel over the tooth to stop the bleeding. Contact our dental office as soon as possible so we can fix your tooth.
If the tooth gets completely knocked out, try not to freak out. Grab a towel or some gauze to place over the socket to stop the bleeding first. Then, look for your missing tooth. Once you find it, carefully pick it up by the crown and avoid touching the roots. Place the tooth in a cup of milk or saliva to prevent it from drying up. Then, contact our dental office and get here as soon as possible so we can reattach your tooth. The longer you wait to visit us, the less likely we will have success replacing the tooth.
DAMAGED TOOTH
If you happen to crack, chip, or break a tooth, this is also a dental emergency. However, some damages might be more severe than others. The big problem is that most people don’t know how severe their tooth damage is until they receive a dental x-ray. A large enough crack can cause an infection in the tooth that would require a root canal to remedy. No matter how big or small your tooth damage might look, we recommend visiting our dental office at your earliest convenience so we can address the damage.
TOOTHACHE
A toothache can occur for many different reasons. One of the most common reasons and easiest to fix is getting a piece of food wedged between the tooth or in the gums. If you randomly experience a sudden toothache, start by brushing and flossing your teeth. Rinsing your mouth with water can also help remove anything that’s stuck in your mouth. If the toothache persists after taking these steps, there might be an underlying problem. In this case, we recommend taking an over the counter pain reliever and then scheduling an appointment with us. If the toothache pain becomes unbearable, please let us know and we will see you sooner.
DAMAGED OR MISSING RESTORATION
If any of your restorations such as inlays, onlays, crowns, fillings, bridges, or veneers become damaged, falls out, or becomes loose, these types of problems can be avoided. All you need to do is visit us regularly for dental cleanings and we will check for the health of your restoration and fix problems before they get worse. If one of these problems happens out of the blue, please contact us for assistance. We recommend taking care of these problems sooner than later.
Don’t let a dental emergency go untreated. Dr. Siegel can help! Please call us at (610) 272-0828 if you’re experiencing a dental emergency in Blue Bell, PA.
