In any emergency situation, those involved may panic and not be aware of what to do or what the best course of action may be. This can become even more apparent when in response to a medical or dental emergency. If you are experiencing a dental emergency there are a few courses of action that you can take. 

What is a Dental Emergency?

A dental emergency can be a series of injuries or developments that have occurred to the mouth or jaw that caused dental repercussions. There are a variety of dental issues that warrant a visit to an emergency dentist including:

• A toothache- Many toothaches occur when something is stuck or wedged between two of your teeth or the pulp of your tooth becomes infected. Because this infection will likely spread if left untreated it is imperative that you call your dentist and schedule an emergency appointment as soon as possible. In the meantime, rinsing your mouth with warm salt water and applying a cold compress to the infected or swollen area will bring a bit of pain relief and slow down the infection from spreading.
• The loss of a permanent tooth- This is an extreme dental emergency and should be acted on as quickly as possible. The loss of a permanent tooth typically comes from an intense facial impact that almost forces the tooth out. If your tooth has been knocked out it is important that you find it and handle it only from the crown. Try to put it back into the socket that it came out from and bite down to keep it from falling out. If it will not stay in the socket, store it in a glass of milk or water and go to the dentist as soon as possible after.
• A broken or chipped tooth- If you have broken or chipped your tooth try to find the broken pieces of it and preserve them in water or milk like you would for the loss of a permanent tooth. From there, rinse the site with warm water and head into your dentist as soon as you can to see what they can do to help the situation.
• Soft tissue injuries- These types of injuries happen to the soft tissue in your mouth such as your lips, gums, tongue, and the inside of your cheeks. If you have experienced any tears, punctures, or lacerations in these areas it is important to gauge the severity. If there is immense bleeding or distortion it is best to first go to an emergency room but if the damage seems moderate to light you may be able to go to the dentist the next day for assistance. If you do have bleeding in your mouth it is important to rinse your mouth out with warm water and apply pressure to the area that is bleeding before you seek help. 

There may be other injuries to the mouth and jaw that warrant a visit to the emergency dentist, especially if you have been injured and notice that your jaw or mouth looks distorted or uneven. It is best to have the issues assessed as soon as possible so the correct treatment can be applied as early as possible. 

What to do in a Dental Emergency

Depending on the severity of your dental emergency you have a few options. If you have something like a toothache, it is best to call your dentist and see when they can schedule you in for an emergency appointment. However, if you have injured yourself which has resulted in broken or chipped teeth or trauma to your mouth and jaw you may not be able to wait to see your dentist. In those serious situations, it is best to head to the emergency room and be treated as much as possible there and then go and see your dentist afterward. 

Contact Us

If you are experiencing a toothache, soft tissue injury, or other dental-related issues, contact RenovaSmiles. Our team of trained dentists and hygienists will go out of their way to help you through your emergency situation. You can call us at 1-844-336-2474 or book an appointment directly on our website here. We look forward to seeing how we can help you.