Had a fall and broke your tooth? Or maybe you just fell off your bike or had a collision during sports and fractured your teeth. Accidents can happen to anyone, anytime. And when they do, it’s important to know what to do. That’s where emergency dentistry comes in.
In this blog, we’ll explore what emergency dentistry is, when you might need it, and how it can help you get the immediate care and relief you need when there’s dental trauma. Keep reading to find out more.
What Is Emergency Dentistry?
Emergency dentistry service helps provide immediate care and treatment for dental emergencies. It involves addressing dental problems that require urgent attention, such as severe toothache, knocked-out, broken or chipped teeth, and bleeding or infected gums.
Benefits of Emergency Dentistry
Some of the benefits of emergency dentistry services include:
Pain Reduction and Management
Dental emergencies can be extremely painful, ranging from sharp tooth pains to excessive bleeding and gum inflammation. Emergency dentistry allows dentists to treat and help manage the pain until a more permanent treatment plan could be implemented. Furthermore, emergency dentists have the skills and the tools to handle urgent dental problems and provide prompt support to alleviate pain and discomfort.
Damage Control
Dental emergencies are sudden and can cause serious damage to your teeth or gums if not treated correctly. For example, if a tooth is knocked out or loosened, an emergency dentist can take steps to stabilise the tooth and prevent further damage. Or if you have a tooth and gum infection, the dentist can prescribe medication to treat the infection before the root cause can be addressed. This also helps minimise complications and further damage to your teeth and gums by managing the emergency and setting the course for future treatment.
Help avoid Extensive Future Treatments
Delaying or ignoring a dental emergency can lead to more severe problems in the future that may require more extensive treatments and procedures to fix. Prompt treatment for a dental emergency can help detect oral issues which may otherwise remain undetected until they progress. It can also prevent permanent damage that may require lengthy restorative dental procedures.
When Do You Need Emergency Dental Care?
Some of the reasons you may need emergency dental care include:
- Chipped or Broken Tooth
A chipped or fractured tooth can be painful and cause further complications if not treated. An emergency dentist will assess the damage and provide immediate pain relief for the damaged tooth. If you have an accident which results in a chipped tooth, apply a cold compress to help ease the swelling and pain.And seek help from a dental professional ASAP.
- Severe Toothache
A severe or sharp toothache because of dental trauma may be an indication of damage to the teeth structure, gums or displacement of the teeth. Whereas dull, persistent pain increasing in intensity and becoming unbearable may be a sign of extensive tooth decay and/or infection. Both require emergency dental care for pain relief and to treat the root cause of the pain.
- Lost Filling
A lost filling can leave an open space in the tooth, leaving it open to bacteria with an increased risk of infection and further decay. It also causes sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures as the nerves are exposed. Larger fillings leave a wider space which may lead to structural instability if the gap is not filled. Any lost filling that causes discomfort and pain must be looked at by a dentist to avoid further damage and complication.
- Loose Or Knocked Out Adult Tooth
When an adult tooth is knocked out, there is only a limited amount of time during which it can be successfully re-implanted. The longer the tooth stays out of the gum, the less chance it has of surviving. If you have a knocked-out tooth, rinse it in milk if dirty and place it back into the socket from the root side, holding it in place until you reach the emergency dentist. If you can’t replace it, place the tooth in a cup of milk, a plastic bag, or an airtight container until you reach the dentist. Do not rinse or put the tooth in water.
- Broken Braces
Broken orthodontic appliances like braces may need emergency dental care to remove them as the wires may cause gum and tooth abrasion, swelling and pain. This may also impact the effectiveness of the orthodontic treatment if the braces are not fixed and set into the proper position.
Reliable Emergency Dentists in Ballarat
At Dana Street Dental, we understand how stressful dental emergencies can be. They can’t wait to be scheduled for a regular dental appointment and need prompt care for a successful recovery. We offer urgent dental care for patients needing assistance with dental emergencies because your oral health and comfort are our priority. Reach out to our friendly Ballarat dentists for dental emergencies or any other dental treatment.
