How can you ever survive a dental emergency when it comes to you? They say that in these kinds of occurrences, things happen in the blink of an eye. Even if you have been so careful, you won’t ever know what will happen to you and to your kids. This is why it’s important to know what to do in these times of uncertainty. And what better way to prepare for this than to have a dental emergency dentist?
This guide breaks down what an Adawn Dental Studio emergency dentist does as well as the things you can do even before you need to alert your dentist about it.
What Is a Dental Emergency?
When you feel a sudden pain or bleeding in your teeth and gums, most people would panic. But with a calm mind and sound decisions, you would realise that some situations call for urgent attention, and here’s how you’ll know about them:
- A knocked-out tooth, regarded as one of the most time-sensitive dental injuries,
- Having a chipped or broken tooth from an unexpected fall or accident where losing a crown or excessive bleeding might happen,
- The sharp pain of a severe toothache that affects the way you eat and how you normally function,
- A sore gum or pus coming out of it that signals a serious infection that can spread immediately,
- Or a post-operation bleeding that is excessive.
What to Do Before You Get to the Dentist
If you are in this situation, the first thing you need to do is to stay calm and try to manage the pain as much as you can. Here are some things you can do next and in specific situations:
- When you are in a situation where your teeth get knocked out, you need to act fast, as you have to get to your dentist within 30 minutes. Some of the things you can do are to pick the tooth by the crown and rinse it with saline solution.
- Applying a cold compress to the area where your tooth got chipped or broken can help reduce the swelling until it’s time for you to get professional care.
- Rinsing your mouth with warm salty water and taking over-the-counter pain relief medicine can lessen the swelling of a severe toothache; however, book an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible.
- You can also do the same procedure of rinsing your mouth with salty water when an abscess already forms. Applying a cold pack outside your face helps for a while, but do not wait for hours to get to the dentist.
- Covering your exposed tooth with sugar-free gum or dental wax and avoiding chewing on the side of the mouth where you lost a dental filling can aid you in times where emergency care is out of reach.
- Lastly, keeping your head elevated and applying pressure with gauze on the bleeding area may help stop the bleeding of your gums.
Of course, all of these situations are just a temporary solution, and you need to get in touch with your dentist as immediately as possible to avoid any complications and infection.
When to Call Triple Zero (000)
000 is the number that we usually call to reach the emergency department; however, it is still best that you have a personal number for your emergency dentist beforehand so you can reach them directly when these things happen.
Smart Prep: Build a Dental Emergency Kit
Teeth do not heal like bones do because once damage has been inflicted, there’s no possible way but to immediately call your dentist. So while you still have time to spare, it’s good to keep a basic dental emergency kit with you, the same as a first aid or medicine kit.
When faced with any emergency situation, it’s best that you keep calm and know what to do before professional help comes. This will not only save your life but also save you from possible infections and complications during these crucial times.
Sometimes, we don’t want to think about the worst things that might happen to us, especially if we will be at an occasion that makes us feel great. But what is there to lose when preparing in advance for any unexpected occurrence? Don’t wait for bad things to happen before you do something. If you already have a resident dentist, make sure you save their number and put it on emergency dial so that anyone can access help and assist you when you need it the most.