Not many people give much thought to a dental emergency until they have one and are left scrambling looking for someone to help them. Dentists are usually not around after hours, so what do you do if you have a crisis while your dentist’s closed sign is up? Would you know what to do if something should happen?
Knowing the five most common dental emergency in Winnipeg situations, and what to do if they happen to you is a great way to prepare for the worst.
- You knock out a front tooth
Teeth are no doubt very durable and resistant, but there are times when blunt force can knock a tooth out. Whether it happens while you are out on the playing field or simply from eventual tooth decay, losing a tooth can happen to anyone. If you lose a tooth, then it is necessary for you to seek emergency care from North Scottsdale Dentistry in order to save the tooth and your smile.
If you don’t seek immediate attention, you might risk the opportunity for the tooth to be salvageable. If you seek care soon enough, there are times when a tooth can be reattached, but you only have about one to two hours before saving the tooth becomes an impossibility, so head over to Inspire Dental Wellness.
- You chip a tooth
A chipped tooth is something that might happen unexpectedly, but chips are not uncommon. Some chips are small enough that they don’t need to be addressed by a dentist immediately, but if your tooth is more than just a little chipped, you do have to seek emergency dental care.
If your chipped tooth is a result of an accident or injury, then you will need to have it fixed with either a veneer, bond or crown.
- A broken tooth
A broken tooth is much more serious than just a chipped one. A broken tooth usually results from an accident or from a hidden chip that you didn’t notice finally gives way. If you have a broken tooth, then you are going to need emergency care.
Most likely, there will be a whole lot of pain and disfiguration. If you are unable to eat or your broken tooth is extremely painful, it is a good idea to get it looked at immediately. If you don’t, it can become infected and potentially will need to be removed and replaced with an implant. If this is the case, don’t delay crown placement on your dental implant more than 3 to 6 months as it can cause serious issues.
As you can see, the timeline for dealing with a tooth injury this severe is quite short once you factor in the waiting list times to see a dentist for a procedure like this. Seek treatment immediately for the best results.
- Food lodged that you can’t get out
It might not sound like a big deal, but there are times when getting food lodged in your teeth can not only really hurt, but do a whole lot of damage if not taken care of. If you don’t seek dental care for food that is stuck where it shouldn’t be, that food can cause a lot of inflammation and even result in an infection.
Trying to pick it out with something might only further exacerbate the situation and introduce bacteria. If you can’t get a piece of something dislodged from your teeth and gums, then it is best to have it looked at immediately by a dental professional. Sometimes what’s stuck and causing your irritation isn’t food. It is always best to know.
- You lost a filling
If you have cavities that were previously filled and the filling comes loose, then it isn’t an issue you should wait to have checked out. A filling is placed to secure the integrity of your tooth. If you don’t protect the remainder of the tooth that has been eaten away by a cavity, then there is a good chance that the tooth will succumb to tooth decay, potentially resulting in the loss of the whole tooth.
Additionally, losing a filling can leave a nerve exposed and cause very sharp pain. If you lose a filling, go seek emergency dental care as soon as possible to make sure that there isn’t any further damage and to take care of any pain that you might be having. If you are searching for “cavity filling near me” you can check out Dental House.
There are times when you hurt something in your mouth, and those little dings or problems can wait a while. There are other times when a mouth accident needs to be addressed immediately. Knowing the difference will not only save you a whole lot of pain but probably a whole lot of expense. If you experience any of these five common problems, it is best to see a dental professional and have it looked at right away and, if necessary, fixed immediately.
