Dental Emergencies: What to Do Before Seeing a Dentist

Dental emergencies such as injuries to your gums or teeth when ignored can result in serious issues. Ignoring dental problems heightens the chances of permanent damage and the necessity of extensive and expensive treatment in the future.

If you have a dental emergency, you should seek emergency dental care in Portland, Oregon, right away, but after taking some measures to contain the situation. Here are some of the most common dental emergency problems and how you can deal with them:

• Toothaches

It is important to note that only severe toothaches are treated as emergencies. First, you have to rinse out any particles in your mouth using warm water. You should then floss to get rid of lodged food, and if there is any swelling, place a pack of ice wrapped in a cloth on that side of the mouth. Do not put any painkillers against your gums or the aching tooth to avoid burning the gum tissue.

• Chipped/ Broken Teeth

If your teeth get chipped or broken, the first thing you should do is see if you can save the pieces. If you can, rinse them and proceed to rinse your mouth with warm water. In case of any bleeding, place gauze to the affected area for some time until a clot forms, then place a cold compress to that side of your mouth to keep the swelling down.

• Knocked-out Teeth

You may disagree with a stranger, and the next thing you know, they are swinging a fist at your jaw, sending your tooth out. In this situation, even though you are in pain, you’ll have to find the tooth. When you find it, hold it gently by its crown, and then rinse off the root using clean water.

Care should be taken not to scrub it or detach the tissue fragments. You can try putting the tooth back into its socket, but ensure it is facing the correct direction. Do not force it back into its place. If this fails, place it in a glass of water containing salt or a container with milk.

It should be remembered that knocked-out teeth that are returned to their place within 60 minutes after falling out to stand a higher chance of being salvaged.

• Extruded Teeth

If your tooth is partially dislodged, place a cold compress to that side of your mouth and take a pain reliever when necessary before seeking emergency dental care in Cambridge.

• Stuck Objects

If you have objects caught between your teeth, you can use dental floss to get them out gently. Avoid using sharp objects as they could scratch the surface of your tooth or cut your gums.

• Lost Fillings

You can temporarily fill the void with sugarless gum or dental cement that you can purchase over-the-counter.

• Lost Crown

If you lose your crown, alert your dentist right away. Meanwhile, if you feel any pain, apply clove oil to the affected part. If you can, retrieve the crown and fit it back over the tooth. However, you should coat its inner surface with dental cement, denture cement, or adhesive to hold it into position before doing so. Stay away from super glue!

• Broken Braces & Wires

The wires of your braces may break or stick out and poke your tongue, gum, or cheek. If this happens, push the wires back into place using your pencil end. If repositioning, it isn’t possible, cover the wire’s end with gauze or orthodontic wax until you see your dentist whitewater. Cutting the wire isn’t an option as it would pose several risks.

• Abscesses

These infections are common around the tooth root and the void between the gums and teeth. The condition can destroy the teeth and surrounding tissues and, left untreated, can spread to other body parts.

Because an abscess can pose numerous risks to your general health, it is wise to make that trip to your dentist in Fort Atkinson as soon as you notice a painful swelling on the gums. Before you get called in by your dentist, you should rinse your mouth using a water and salt solution to draw out the pus and bring down the pain.

• Injuries to the Soft Tissue

The tongue, gums, lips, and cheeks are some of the soft tissues that are commonly injured. Injuries to these tissues may lead to bleeding. You can control the bleeding by rinsing your mouth using a water and salt mixture and placing a teabag or gauze to the affected part. Applying a cold compress to that side of the cheek will help lessen the pain and bleeding.

How much does Emergency Dental Treatment Cost?

The cost of treating dental emergencies varies depending on the severity of your conditions. Some problems require minor fixes, while others need extensive treatment.

Finding the Right Dentist Near You

We are an emergency dental care near you. If you live in Fort Atkinson or the surrounding communities and need an emergency dentist near you, come meet our emergency dentist near you at Rock River Dental.