What are the Most Frequent Emergencies That Dentists Treat?

Dental emergencies come in different forms. A missing or broken tooth, gum disease, and tooth decay are some of the most common dental emergencies. It is true that the best way to prevent dental issues is through proper dental care. However, having a clear idea of how to handle dental emergencies can go a long way towards safeguarding your dental health and preventing long-term damage, when the worst happens.

What are the Most Frequent Emergencies That Dentists Treat?

With that in mind, continue reading below to find out more about the most common dental emergencies.

Toothache

A toothache is by far one of the most common dental emergencies. Pain can be a sign of various dental issues including tooth decay, oral injuries, and infections among others. In some cases, toothache can be managed at home without emergency treatment using over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and acetaminophen among others. However, you should never place any painkillers, including aspirin, against your gum or tissue as it can burn the gum tissue. Alternatively, you can apply a cold compress over the outside of your cheek.

Any cases of toothache accompanied by swelling require urgent dental care. When this occurs, be sure to seek emergency dental care immediately.

While toothache may be considered to be the most common dental emergency, other common emergencies include:

Broken or Chipped Tooth

In addition to being very painful, a chipped or broken tooth can ruin your smile. If the bleeding is excessive, use warm water to rinse out your mouth and place a piece of gauze at the affected area. Relieve pain and swelling by placing a cold compress on the area of your face closest to the affected tooth. Afterward, contact an emergency dentist to get the problem fixed as soon as possible.

Cracked Or Lost Filling

Lost or cracked fillings need to be fixed immediately to prevent further damage. This is mainly due to the fact that they are primarily used to restore the function and appearance of a previously damaged tooth. Avoid trying to fix the damaged tooth by yourself. Instead, cover the affected area with a piece of sugarless gum as you make arrangements for an emergency visit to the dentist’s office.

Knocked-out Tooth

A knocked-out tooth can cause bleeding and pain. The tooth can be put back in place depending on the nature of the injury; ideally, this has to be done within an hour. Pick up the knocked-out tooth by the crown and rinse off any dirt – without removing any attached tissue fragments. You can try to put the tooth back in place carefully, without forcefully pushing it into the socket. Alternatively, you can just place it in a cup of milk, as a way of preserving it for an emergency restoration procedure.

Conclusion

Keep calm and avoid panicking when dental emergencies in Albuquerque occur. After giving yourself the necessary first aid, be sure to make an emergency visit to the dentist.

What Conditions Are Considered To Be a Dental Emergency?

Dental emergencies are common and it’s essential to know what to do when one happens to you.

This includes taking the time to understand what constitutes a dental emergency and what to look out for. Here is a detailed breakdown of what a dental emergency entails and what you should do as soon as you are in such a situation.

What Is A Dental Emergency?

A dental emergency is any dental condition requiring immediate professional assistance to avoid further pain, discomfort, and damage to the teeth.

Examples of this can include:

* Toothaches
* Broken Teeth/Knocked Out Teeth
* Swollen Jaw
* Bleeding Gums
* Missing Filling
* Exposed Nerve

Anything surrounding these conditions should be addressed as soon as possible by a qualified dentist. They will know what to do to regulate the pain and make sure the teeth are in the condition they need to be.

How To Deal With A Dental Emergency

1. Book An Appointment With The Dentist Right Away

The first thing you are going to want to do is to book an appointment with a dentist. Some dentists work around the clock and/or are willing to book emergency appointments. They will prioritize you due to the nature of the condition you’re in.

This is ideal since you are going to want treatment as soon as you can get it.

2. Rinse The Mouth

You are also going to want to focus on controlling the bleeding if that is a concern. This can be done by rinsing the mouth with water. Just make sure to rinse gently and allow the water to dribble out as that is going to make sure you don’t aggravate the situation.

3. Use Gauze To Control Bleeding

If the bleeding is getting worse, it’s essential to use gauze to help control it. This is essential as that is one of the best ways to control how much you are bleeding. Pressing against it is going to help, but also placing it near the opening of the mouth is useful too.

Final Thoughts

These are the most important things a person should do when dealing with a dental emergency. The onset of pain can be sudden and you are going to want to numb it as best as you can until a dentist gets to see what’s going on.

By following the steps listed here, you will be able to take control of the situation before the dentist sees what’s going on.

What Happens If a Tooth Infection Spreads to Your Jaw?

A tooth infection is the build-up of pus and bacteria inside the teeth or gums. The bacteria cause tooth infections. And if left untreated, the bacteria inside the tooth might spread to the jaw. So, if it to the jaw, it could lead to serious and potentially life-threatening conditions.

What Happens If a Tooth Infection Spreads to Your Jaw?

Here is what happens if tooth infection spreads to the jaw:

A tooth infection spreading to the jaw could lead to toothache, bone infection, tooth loss, blood infection, and inflammation throughout the body.

Toothache

If there is an opening in the tooth enamel, then bacteria might infect the pulp of the tooth. The infection might spread from the root of the tooth to the jaw. The infection could cause a toothache. Why? Because the infection could lead to tissue swelling and buildup of pus within the tooth and jaw.

Bone Infection

The presence of bacteria inside the tooth could lead to bone infection. The bacteria travel from the pulp of the tooth to the jaw, causing bone infection. And the bacteria can destroy the supporting bones over time. The bone infection could cause swelling and dissolve the jaw bone. The swelling can damage the bone and lead to bone loss.

Tooth Loss

Once the infection spreads to the jaw, the bone structures of the jaw become weak. A weak jaw bone structure does not support the teeth. So, if a person does not treat their tooth infection, they will lose more teeth later in life. If a tooth falls out, it leaves an empty space in the jaw, leading to bone loss and tooth loss.

Inflammation

If a person does not treat a tooth infection, the infection could spread to the jaw bones and other parts of the body. In fact, the bacteria from the tooth infection could spread to the jaws and enter the bloodstream to cause inflammation throughout the body. The inflammation could rupture organs and block arteries.

Blood Infection

Last, but not least, the bacterial infection could spread to the jaw and through the entire bloodstream. If bacteria from the tooth infection enters the bloodstream, it could lead to adverse effects. The person may experience a rapid heartbeat, high fever, chills, confusion, vomiting, and severe nausea. Blood infection can cause shock and organ failure.

Final Thoughts

Most tooth infections are easy to treat. Early treatment can stop the tooth infection from spreading to the jaw. However, if the tooth infection spreads to the jaw, the infection could become severe and life-threatening. Maintaining good oral hygiene and visiting the dentist regularly can prevent tooth infections.

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What Should You Do If You Find That You Have a Loose Adult Tooth?

Loose teeth might be normal for a child, but can be a cause for concern for an adult. If one of your adult teeth feels loose, you might notice that it’s possible to wiggle it. You may also find a loose tooth by touching it while engaging in normal activities such as eating or drinking.

What Could Cause an Adult Tooth to Become Loose?

Adult teeth can become loose due to several different factors, which include but are not limited to:

– Injury/Trauma: Your adult teeth can become loose if an injury to your mouth causes damage to the root of the tooth as well as the surrounding gums.

– Teeth Grinding (Bruxism): Clenching or grinding puts pressure on your teeth, which makes them loose over time.

– Gum Disease (Periodontitis): It’s a severe gum infection that causes gum recession. If left untreated, periodontitis can cause loose teeth.

– Pregnancy: The hormonal imbalances experienced during pregnancy may affect the bones and ligaments in the mouth that hold teeth causing them to loosen.

– Osteoporosis (Weakening of Bones): If you have osteoporosis, your jawbone may lose its density causing teeth to become loose.

– Diabetes: If your diabetes isn’t under control, it can aggravate your gum disease, which in turn can cause loosening of teeth.

– Medication: Calcium is necessary for strong and healthy bones and teeth, but certain medications can make it difficult for the body to absorb it. Prolonged intake of such medication can weaken and loosen your teeth.

What Can You Do While Waiting to See the Dentist?

If your tooth is very loose, fractured, chipped, knocked-out, or almost falling out, you have a dental emergency and you should see your dentist within the shortest time possible. To save your tooth, it needs to be out back in its socket within no more than 2 hours.

In the meantime, you should do the following:

– Avoid touching the root when picking the tooth up

– Rinse the tooth in a bowl of lukewarm water

– Replace the tooth in its socket facing the right way

– Press down on the tooth with your thumb until the crown is level with the adjacent tooth

– Bite down on a wad of cloth to stabilize the tooth until you’re seen by the dentist.

If you have a loose adult tooth, don’t panic. You can increase the odds of avoiding tooth loss or any further complications by seeking treatment immediately. Contact or schedule an appointment with a dentist in Albuquerque if you think that you have a loose adult tooth and your smile will thank you.