What is a Dental Emergency?

4 Types of Dental Emergencies (And How to Handle Them)

When you are having a dental emergency, it can be extremely stressful, particularly when you're afraid that you may take the wrong approach in solving it. If you have been lucky enough to not have had a dental emergency, you may not realize how to handle it. In both situations, you need some information to help you deal with dental emergencies if they happen to you or someone around you. Aesthetic Dental Center of Dover, NJ, is here to assist you if you or a loved one experiences a dental disaster like one of the following:

1. Damaged Crown or Bridge

Any type of facial injury or trauma can result in damage to a dental bridge or crown. There are also some other common situations that can cause these restorations to shift, crack, or come out entirely. If you have ever damaged a crown or bridge from biting into something or having a sticky snack, you realize that it can happen to anybody at any time. If this should happen, it is optimal to save the bridge or crown and visit a dental professional as soon as you are able to make an appointment.

2. Wisdom Teeth

Wisdom teeth are the set of teeth that erupt through your gums after all of your other teeth are in place. This typically happens in late adolescence or young adulthood. Even though this may result in an uncomfortable toothache, it probably does not count as an emergency. However, if you have an inflamed jaw or high fever, you should contact a dentist as soon as you can, to alleviate any infection or pain.

3. Dental Abscess

It doesn't really matter how it happens, whether due to a collision or injury, a hit to the face can rapidly develop into a dental emergency. This type of trauma can cause a tooth to loosen, small cracks to develop, or even lead to a knocked-out tooth. If your tooth has been knocked out, you definitely need to visit your regular dentist or an emergency dentist right away to save the tooth.

Without touching it by its roots, grasp the tooth by its chewing surface and take it with you to the dentist so that they can try to replace it. The tooth should be kept moist by remaining in your mouth or saturated in milk. Make sure you see a dentist as soon as possible, as time is of the essence for saving this tooth.

4. Toothache

Experiencing a dull ache in your teeth or gums does not normally count as a dental emergency. However, if you are in excruciating pain and cannot perform activities like thinking, chewing, sleeping, or drinking, it is time to see the dentist as soon as possible.

Our Recommendation: Seek Treatment 

Naturally, dental emergencies can occur in a variety of ways. Your dental team at Aesthetic Dental Center of Dover, NJ, wants you to know that if you are in excruciating pain, cannot stop bleeding, or have lost a tooth, you need to visit us as soon as possible to deal with these types of dental emergencies.