When to Seek Emergency Dental Care

It’s not uncommon to underestimate the importance of dental health. Fact is, millions of people experience some form of dental pain bad enough to seek relief. The American Dental Association’s (ADA) Health Policy Institute estimates that 2.2 million people visit emergency departments every year. The problem is, hospitals aren’t equipped to provide proper dental care. 

So, if you experience dental pain that needs medical attention, there are some things you should know about how to handle the experience.

Residents of Mamaroneck, New York, and Stamford, Connecticut, looking for relief from emergency dental pain have help available. Dr. Gennadiy Kravets of All Bright Dental has over 15 years of experience helping people with a variety of dental problems, including dental emergencies.

What is a dental emergency?

Dental emergencies can mean many things. For instance, crowns, dental appliances, fillings, or veneers may chip, malfunction, or break, and those situations will need attention as soon as possible. Some situations call for immediate medical attention. These conditions include:

• A cracked or broken tooth
• Knocked out tooth
• Bleeding or aching gums
• Tooth or jaw pain
• Soft tissue injury (damage to your lip or tongue)

These situations can result from accidents that cause damage to the mouth or infections or dental abscess, which can do long term damage to your teeth and gums. 

What can you do until you get emergency care?

The way you care for teeth and gums will vary depending on the emergency and the severity of the situation. For cracked or broken teeth, use warm water to rinse out your mouth and apply a cold compress to help with swelling. 

If you have a tooth that’s been knocked out, avoid touching the root, and if possible, try to place it back in the socket. If that is not an option, keep it moist at all times. That can mean keeping in your cheek or putting it in milk. Once again, use a cold, wet compress to reduce bleeding.

For tooth or gum pain and issues with bleeding gums, rinse out your mouth with warm water. Gentle flossing can help to remove foreign particles or other materials from teeth and gums. For soft tissue damage, clean the area with water and apply a wet compress to staunch the bleeding. 

When should you go to a dentist?

Any situation that involves something broken or bleeding should be dealt with as soon as possible. Apply pressure and preserve any broken pieces until you get to our office. Tooth and gum pain may be evidence of abscess or periodontal disease, which needs immediate care.

Dental care is part of your overall health care, and emergency treatment for dental conditions means going to a dentist that can offer the help you need. Make an appointment with Dr. Kravets and All Bright Dental today to treat dental emergencies.