A dental emergency can be painful, frightening, and stressful. While some minor dental issues can wait until your next scheduled appointment, others require immediate professional attention to prevent further damage, manage pain, and potentially save a tooth. Knowing which situations demand urgent care is essential for your oral health.
At Lacey Family Dental, we are prepared to handle a wide range of dental emergencies. Here are four common emergencies you should never ignore and the steps you should take immediately.
1. The Sudden, Severe Toothache
A toothache is often a sign that something is wrong, but a sudden, severe, and persistent pain is a clear signal of an emergency. This type of pain often indicates a deep infection, a cavity that has reached the inner pulp of the tooth, or a cracked tooth. Ignoring it can lead to the spread of infection to other parts of your body.
What to do:
- Rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area.
- Gently floss to remove any food particles trapped between your teeth.
- Take over-the-counter pain relievers, but do not place aspirin directly on the tooth or gums.
- Contact Lacey Family Dental immediately for an emergency appointment.
2. A Knocked-Out (Avulsed) Tooth
A knocked-out tooth is a critical emergency where time is of the essence. If you act quickly, a dentist may be able to successfully re-implant the tooth. The sooner you get to our office, the higher the chances of saving the tooth.
What to do:
- Handle the tooth only by the crown (the top part), not the root.
- If it’s dirty, gently rinse it with water, but do not scrub it.
- Try to reinsert the tooth into its socket. If you cannot, place it in a small container of milk or a tooth-saving solution.
- Get to our office within 30 minutes to an hour.
3. A Cracked or Chipped Tooth
A cracked or chipped tooth can be more than a cosmetic issue. If the crack extends into the pulp, it can cause severe pain and infection. Even a small crack can be a sign of a larger problem.
What to do:
- Rinse your mouth with warm water.
- Apply a cold compress to your cheek to reduce any swelling.
- If the crack has a sharp edge that is cutting your tongue or cheek, cover it with dental wax or sugar-free gum.
- Call Lacey Family Dental for an immediate evaluation.
4. A Dental Abscess
A dental abscess is a serious infection at the root of a tooth or between the tooth and the gum. Symptoms include a persistent, severe toothache, fever, and a swollen face or tender lymph nodes. It may also look like a pimple-like bump on your gums. An abscess can spread to the jawbone and beyond if not treated promptly.
What to do:
- Contact our office immediately. An abscess requires professional drainage and antibiotics.
- Rinse your mouth with a mild salt-water solution to help draw the pus to the surface.
- Do not try to pop the abscess yourself, as this can worsen the infection.
Your Partner in Emergency Dental Care
It’s important to trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, it likely is. Don’t risk your oral health by ignoring severe pain or a dental injury. The team at Lacey Family Dental is here to provide prompt, compassionate care when you need it most.