What Is a Dental Emergency?
A dental emergency generally involves any urgent dental issue requiring immediate treatment to stop bleeding, relieve severe pain, or save a tooth. Emergencies can result from accidents, injuries, infections, or sudden tooth problems like a cavity reaching the nerve.
Do I Need Emergency Dentistry?
Emergency dental care can save your natural teeth and prevent infections from spreading. For instance, if a tooth is knocked out in an accident, prompt treatment may allow it to be reimplanted, helping you avoid costly implants or more invasive procedures. Acting quickly means you can access more natural, affordable treatments for many emergencies.
You Should Seek Emergency Care If You Experience:
- Pain severe enough to interfere with eating or sleeping
- Knocked-out teeth
- Broken or loose braces
- Chipped, cracked, or broken teeth
- Lost fillings or crowns
- Abscesses or painful swelling on the gums
What to Do During a Dental Emergency
Dental emergencies can be frightening, but staying calm helps you manage the situation. Follow these first aid tips and contact your Mississauga Dentist immediately.
Toothache
Apply a cold compress to reduce pain and swelling. Use pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil), but avoid aspirin as it thins the blood and may worsen bleeding. Keep track of medications taken.
Knocked-Out Teeth
If a natural tooth is completely knocked out, handle it by the crown (top), not the root. Try to reinsert it gently into the socket immediately. If the tooth is dirty, rinse it carefully with water without scrubbing. If reinsertion isn’t possible, store the tooth in a cup of warm milk and call us right away. Treatment within the hour offers the best chance to save your tooth.
Broken Teeth
Save all broken pieces. Rinse your mouth with warm water to clear debris. If bleeding occurs, apply sterile gauze until it stops. Use a cold compress to ease pain and swelling. Contact us promptly for repair and to prevent further damage.
Abscess
Rinse your mouth several times daily with warm saltwater (half a teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of water) to relieve pain and draw out infection. Abscesses are serious infections at the root of a tooth or gums that can spread if untreated. Seek prompt dental care to avoid complications.
Fallen-Out Filling
As a temporary fix, apply orthodontic wax over the exposed area to protect it until you can visit the dentist. This is only a short-term solution.
Jaw Injury
Avoid solid foods and apply ice to reduce swelling. If you suspect a fracture, seek emergency dental care immediately.
Contact us today
to schedule an initial consultation & exam.
Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.
Frequently Asked Questions
While the tips above provide immediate relief, the best first step is always to call your Mississauga Dentist. We will guide you through pain management, help save your tooth, and arrange for urgent care.
Follow your doctor’s advice and read medication labels carefully. Over-the-counter pain relievers like Tylenol or Advil can help temporarily but are not a cure. Be sure to note what you took, how much, and when, and inform your dentist during your visit.
You can visit an Emergency Room (ER) if needed. However, ERs typically provide temporary relief and cannot fully treat dental problems. They will bill your health insurance and may refer you to a dental professional for follow-up care.
An untreated broken tooth can become infected, leading to abscess formation, nerve damage, and potentially requiring root canal treatment.
If an abscess bursts, pain may lessen temporarily, but urgent dental treatment is still required. Untreated infections can spread to the jaw, head, and neck, and in severe cases, lead to sepsis, a life-threatening condition.
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