Dental emergencies can strike at any time. Some require more urgency than others, but in all cases the important bottom line is to contact your team of dental professionals as soon as possible.
Emergency dental trauma includes a number of dental injuries, such as deep cracks, factures, and knocked-out teeth. While dental trauma is most often caused by accidents and sports injuries, it can also happen due to biting into something hard. When the pulp inside a tooth is injured, due to any cause, it can become inflamed or infected. This is true whether or not there Is any visible damage to the tooth’s surface.
The reality is that dental trauma can happen, and in many cases trauma means an emergency therapy. In many circumstances, a root canal and restoration will effectively save an injured tooth; in others, an extraction may be necessary. Either way, if you’ve experienced a dental emergency, the best way to save your teeth is by seeking prompt treatment for your injury.
Getting a Tooth Knocked Out
Whether from sports play, a fall, or an automobile accident, getting a tooth knocked out requires urgent dental intervention.
Your chances to save the natural tooth decreases between 30 to 60 minutes after the injury occurs. Assuming you can find your tooth, you should:
- Contact your dentist immediately
- Hold the tooth only by the crown, which is the top area of the tooth, and rinse off any debris, using water only
- Don’t wash away any tissue still remaining on the tooth root
- While the very best way to preserve your tooth is to hold it into the socket it was knocked from, if this isn’t possible, transport the tooth to your dentist either in a container with your saliva or saline.
- Rinse your mouth with warm water
- Apply a cold compress to your face in the injury area
- Head immediately to your dentist’s office
Teeth that have been knocked out can, in some cases, be successfully replanted into the socket. Call our office as soon as possible for instructions! The sooner you receive treatment, the better the chances of saving your tooth. Teeth that have had this serious trauma, if savable, most often need a root canal eventually.
When Should I Contact My Dentist?
With a knocked-out tooth, this is a dental emergency in which you want to reach out to your dental team immediately.
Other emergency situations that also require immediate help are:
- Swelling in the mouth or face
- Severe pain in any part of your mouth
- Knots or swelling in gums
- Bleeding from the mouth
- Loose adult tooth
Do You Need Emergency Help for a Knocked-Out Tooth?
If you need emergency help, whether urgently in the case of a knocked-out tooth, or to schedule a timely appointment, reach out to us today. We’re here to handle all your emergency dental needs!