Dental Emergency Tips from a Trusted Emergency Dental Practice

A dental emergency is any event or occurrence that puts you at the risk of compromised oral well-being. When faced with a dental emergency, it’s normal to feel panicky or even overwhelmed. After all, not many people feel prepared or capable of handling a dental emergency on their own. Fortunately, you don’t have to.

An emergency dentist is a dental health professional well-versed in performing emergency dental procedures during dental emergencies. An emergency dentist is your greatest ally when it comes to overcoming a dental crisis, regardless of its nature.

Emergency dentists work tirelessly to provide swift dental treatment to patients drawn from all backgrounds.

If you’re looking for a trusted emergency dental practice near you, please contact Lexington Dental Group today.

Common Dental Emergencies

Dental emergencies occur in various forms. They affect individuals of all ages, from the very young to the more elderly. Regardless of their nature, dental emergencies must be treated with the seriousness they deserve. Failure to do this can lead to long-term complications, including tooth loss.

Common dental emergencies include:

• Knocked out or avulsed teeth.
• Soft tissue injuries such as cut lips, bruised gums.
• Unexplained bleeding or swelling.
• Toothaches.
• Broken or chipped teeth, especially when accompanied by great pain.
• Minor jaw injuries.
• Dislodged restorations, e.g., crowns and fillings that have fallen out.
• Abscesses and other signs of infection.

Many people struggle to tell the difference between a dental emergency and a minor dental problem that can wait until later. So, how do you tell these apart? Generally, anything that causes you a significant amount of pain or puts you at risk of tooth loss must be treated as an emergency.

What Causes Dental Emergencies?

Dental emergencies can culminate from various factors, including:

• Tooth decay. If your teeth are significantly decayed, whether, from poor dental hygiene or unhealthy snacking habits, you’re only a few days away from a dental emergency.
• Eating. Indulging in your favorite hard candy or crunchy snacks can cause your teeth to chip.
• Accidents. Teeth can suffer a traumatic injury during the most unexpected times, e.g., during a fall at your workplace or when engaging in your favorite sports activity.

You can lower your risk of dental emergencies by adopting measures that safeguard your oral well-being. For example, always wear a mouthguard when participating in sports, and ensure that you brush your teeth daily to keep tooth decay at bay. We also recommend scheduling twice-yearly preventive checks with our dentists at Lexington Dental Group. Dental exams and cleanings allow close monitoring and evaluation of your dental health.

Dental Emergency First-Aid Tips

What should you do immediately after a dental emergency? For most people, the natural response is to panic. Unfortunately, panic only makes a bad situation worse. Below are some simple, practical, and highly effective steps you should consider right after a dental emergency:

• If you’ve knocked out a tooth, place it back in its tooth socket. Alternatively, place the tooth in a container or glass of milk. Avoid touching the tooth’s root as this can harm the periodontal ligaments, which facilitate re-attachment.
• Rinse an aching tooth with warm salty water. Use dental floss to remove any debris that may be stuck between the teeth. Such debris can exert pressure on a tooth and cause dental pain.
• If you nick your gums, tongue, or lips, you can minimize bleeding using a moistened sterilize gauze pad. Place the gauze pad on the injured area and apply gentle pressure.
• Use a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory painkiller, e.g., ibuprofen or aspirin, to relieve pain during a dental emergency.

What to Expect

Our dentists at Lexington Dental Group work swiftly to, first, eliminate pain and second, reduce the chances of long-term complications. As every dental situation is unique, so are the emergency dental procedures undertaken. The intervention required during a dental crisis varies depending on the nature of the dental problem. For example, in the event of a knocked-out tooth, the dentist may choose to re-attach the tooth if this is feasible.

Dealing with a Dental Emergency?

Are you experiencing a dental emergency? You don’t have to go through a dental crisis alone. Reach out to Lexington Dental Group to receive dental care from an experienced emergency dentist near you.