4 Common Dental Emergencies and How to Deal With Them

dentist in Edmonton

An emergency is an unexpected and dangerous situation that requires immediate assistance; therefore, a dental emergency is any situation that harms your teeth and other tissues of your mouth.

Ideally, none of us would have to experience these unpleasant situations, but the truth is that they can happen to anyone, anytime; at night, during the weekend, and the holidays, so it is essential to have an emergency dentist near you that helps you in case of a sudden accident.

Not everybody is clear enough about what a dental emergency is; so, our dentist in Edmonton will guide us and describe four of the most common emergencies and how can we deal with them.

Common Scenarios

1.  A Cracked Tooth

Whether you were biting a hard object or received an impact on your face, you can get a chipped tooth at any time. If you do, it is essential to stay away from the superglue. If you use superglue to try and fix it, you will worsen the situation.

Superglue is not a biocompatible material with the tooth; it suffocates it, so you can end up damaging the nerve permanently. If this happens, our emergency dentist in Edmonton will have no other option than to perform a root canal, and in some cases, even extracting the tooth.

If you made it this far, now you know that superglue is forbidden! What you can do is rinse your mouth with lukewarm water, and applying ice packs on and off for ten minutes, in case you have swelling in the area. If you are experiencing pain, any over-the-counter painkillers will work to alleviate it, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

The size of the chipped portion of the tooth is going to determine the best treatment. If it is large, a dentist near you might be able to reattach it; otherwise, it will be better to bond some composite resin of the color of your tooth to restore the lost structure.

2.  Severe Dental Pain

If you have had dental pain, you know that it is one of the most painful forms of pain. If it is too severe, it might be a sign of infection, and you must visit your emergency dentist right away. To manage pain in the meantime, you may rinse your mouth with warm water and taking over-the-counter pain medication.

3.  Tooth Loss

If you have a permanent knocked-out tooth, time is essential to save it. Locate the dental piece and grab it by the crown (never by the root!), and preserve it in a container with milk; then, visit a dental office near you. The faster you react, the better the prognosis will be.

If it’s a primary tooth, place it in a container with milk and visit your dentist. Most likely, he or she suggests a space maintainer, depending on the age of your child.

4.  Poking Wires

Undergoing orthodontic treatment can be uncomfortable when a wire is poking you. While you get to the dentist, you can use orthodontic wax to cover the wire and prevent more pain.

Don’t Postpone the Visit

If you experience any of the situations above, don’t ignore them. Waiting longer might worsen the prognosis of the treatment, and it may end up in more complex and expensive procedures. Your health should be your top priority, so don’t wait until the issues are worse.

Contact Us

We have a caring team of doctors that will be available to help you during any emergencies. Feel free to contact our dental offices at your earliest convenience, and keep up with your oral health.

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