You can develop a dental emergency at any moment. An abscess can start burning and throbbing without you even knowing it’s there. Or a simple fall can cause one of your kids’ teeth to get knocked out.
When any of these issues happen, your first call should be to the emergency dentist Mornington locals rely on. In many instances, dealing with a dental emergency immediately will allow your dentist being able to save a tooth or provide a more long-term solution.
Act Fast With Big or Small Dental Issues
We’ve compiled a list of the more common dental emergencies you or one of your family members may have to deal with.
1. Extreme Toothache
If you don’t regard a toothache as much of an emergency, then it means you’re fortunate enough to never have experienced one severe enough. Many toothaches clear up and are often just treated with a hot compress and over-the-counter pain medications.
If these don’t clear up the issue or the pain intensifies rather than diminishes, it could be a sign of an underlying issue. You could be looking at a cracked tooth or a dental abscess under the painful tooth.
Your dentist will provide you with antibiotics and painkillers to provide immediate pain relief. They will then assess your mouth and do an X-ray if necessary to determine the underlying cause. This will then be treated to prevent the issue from recurring.
2. Trauma or Soft Tissue Injuries
More common in children or anyone actively playing sports, accidents or trauma to the face can lead to soft tissue injuries of the mouth. This involves the gums, tongue, or cheeks and often causes pain, discomfort, and bleeding.
If you can’t get the bleeding to stop on your own, or you can see that it’s not a minor cut, then it’s essential to seek immediate dental assistance. Your dentist will assess the issue and provide the necessary treatment to promote healing.
3. Damaged or Lost Dental Restoration
You may think that having your teeth restored or repaired means that your dental issues are at an end. However, dental restorations such as crowns, fillings, or even dental bridges can become dislodged or damaged. When this happens, you may experience discomfort and pain.
If the issue isn’t dealt with urgently, you may develop additional complications. Your dentist will assess the situation and either repair or replace the restoration. This will reduce further damage to the area. Speak to your dentist about habits that could prevent this from happening again. For instance, ditching hard food and candies may be a good place to start.
4. Dental Infections
Any type of infection in the body can end up making you severely ill if it isn’t treated properly. Another top dental issue that can lead to significant discomfort and pain is the various types of dental infections that can lead to severe swelling. Gum abscesses are the most common of these and can often lead to difficulty breathing and swallowing. If left untreated, this can lead to inflammation and bacteria spreading to the rest of your mouth.
Your dentist will assess your mouth to find the primary cause of the abscess. Incorporating mouthwash into your daily oral routine may help prevent these types of abscesses from appearing. An antibacterial mouthwash will prevent bacteria from getting into small cuts in your gums caused by hard foods or even a too-hard toothbrush.
5. Tooth Abscess
If you’ve ever had to deal with a dental abscess, you will know just how painful a tiny spot of pus on your gum can be. Typically, this happens when a bacterial infection reaches the root of your tooth, which causes the pus to build up.
This, in turn, leads to severe pain and discomfort. If left untreated, this can lead to a systemic infection. Your dentist may need to perform root canal therapy or even remove the tooth. Improving your oral hygiene habits will go a long way to preventing these issues in the first place.
6. One of Your Teeth Got Knocked Out
Have you ever had a knocked-out tooth and thought it was no longer useful to you, and thrown it away? Many people are unaware that a knocked-out tooth can sometimes be reimplanted. With this in mind, if you or your child gets a tooth knocked out, it’s essential to seek immediate medical attention to facilitate the reimplantation.
You will, of course, need the tooth. Gently rinse the tooth, but don’t scrub it or touch the root. Gently place it back in its socket if possible. However, if there is too much blood or the area is too painful, you can opt to keep the tooth moist by placing it in a container of milk. Speak to your emergency dentist for an emergency appointment.
Final Thoughts
Dental emergencies can cause extensive pain and discomfort and disrupt your oral health. Learn to recognise the signs of when you’re having a dental emergency and reach out to your dental specialist. They will advise you of the best course of action.
