“Dental Emergency” is a term that comprise of several problems involving the teeth and supporting structures that are potentially serious and should be given immediate attention by professionals. Often, such oral injuries come with excruciating pain and should be alleviated/treated by your emergency dentist in Phoenix. In this blog post, we discuss some of the most common dental emergencies and how you can properly handle the situation.
- Toothache – Pain is a normal response of the body, indicating that there is something not quite right. First, inspect your oral cavity for what may be causing the pain. If you can see or feel lodged food or other particles, rinse your mouth with warm water and use a dental floss to remove the particle (never use a pin or other sharp objects). If swelling is developing, you can apply cold compress on your cheek, over the affected area. Never apply any painkiller near or around the affected area as this may burn the gum tissue.
- Knocked-Out Tooth – Immediately retrieve the tooth by its crow (the exposed/top part) and gently rinse it to make sure it is clean. Do not remove the tissue attached to it, and gently place back the tooth into its socket properly. If this is not possible, place the tooth in a container of milk (preferred medium) or clean water with a pinch of salt, or wrap it in a clean gauze and immerse it in saliva. Immediately call/visit your dentist. Time (including the above mentioned processes) is very essential in saving the knocked-out tooth!
- Broken or Chipped Tooth – Save all pieces if possible. Rise your mouth with warm water, and apply gauze if bleeding is present, until it stops. Apply cold compress onto your cheek/lip over the affected area to subside any swelling and somehow relive the pain. You can also take in ibuprofen if pain becomes unbearable. Visit your emergency dentist in Phoenix as soon as possible.
- Loose or Partially Dislodged Tooth – Set an emergency appointment with your dentist immediately. In the meantime, you can try to put the tooth back to its original position. Use only a slight pressure and do not attempt to force it back. When repositioned, you can bit down to keep it from moving. Apply cold compress on your cheeks, over the affected area.
These are just a few of the common dental emergency situations that you may encounter (or have encountered). Do not try to solve the problem on your own as this may aggravate the injury. The best thing to do is to practice the above mentioned steps and call your emergency dentist in Phoenix to set an appointment!