What To Do In A Dental Emergency
Dental emergencies are not entirely avoidable, but they can certainly be prevented. Like medical emergencies, dental
emergencies require immediate attention to prevent further damage and complications. Moreover, knowing what to do in the case of dental emergencies could make all the difference between losing and saving a tooth.
What is a Dental Emergency?
According to the American Dental Association1, a dental emergency is any potentially life-threatening situation that requires immediate intervention to control bleeding, severe pain, or an infection.
What Should You Do During A Dental Emergency?
Preparation and prevention go hand-in-hand to minimize dental emergencies and their damage. The Ontario Dental
Association2Â recommends everyone ask their dentists for their emergency contact information and if they offer
after-hours emergency dental care.
If your dentist is unavailable after business hours, they may give you an alternative number or location of an
emergency dental clinic in your area. Place this information in an easily visible place, the fridge or a kitchen
cabinet,so that you can contact the emergency dentist when urgent dental care is needed.
Common Dental Emergencies and Their Management
Every dental emergency is typically dealt with according to the underlying cause. Below are some common dental
emergencies and how to manage them.
1. Severe Toothache
If you experience a severe toothache, call your dentist and ask them to be seen immediately. Meanwhile, you could take
an over-the-counter medication suggested by your doctor to relieve the pain.
However, you should never touch or apply any medication directly on/inside a painful tooth as it may aggravate the
pain and cause more harm than good. You should also not apply a heating pad over the affected side of the face or any
heat treatment within the mouth. This is because heat may increase the pain and inflammation.
2. Chipped Teeth
Often, chipped teeth can be saved if one receives timely emergency dental services. If you or a loved one has a broken
tooth, call your dentist immediately and explain the situation. While waiting to see the dentist, rinse your mouth
with lukewarm water to remove broken tooth fragments.
If there is bleeding from the affected tooth, place a clean cloth on the tooth and bite on it. You may also apply an
ice pack over the affected side of the face to minimize pain and swelling.
3. Knocked-Out Teeth
If a permanent tooth is knocked out, your dentist may be able to save it if you visit them within a few hours. If
someone has a knocked-out tooth, they should hold it by the crown (the visible part of the tooth) and wash it gently
with water to remove debris.
Next, the Canadian Dental Association3 recommends attempting to place the tooth back into its socket. If that is impossible, do not apply excessive force or pressure and call your 24-hour emergency dentist. While waiting for the dentist to see you, you should preserve the broken tooth in a jar containing milk or a tooth-preserving medium. If these are not available, you can keep the tooth inside your cheek so that it remains constantly bathed with saliva.
If a baby has knocked out a milk tooth, it should not be placed into the socket. Doing so may damage the underlying
permanent tooth.
4. Uncontrolled Bleeding
Bleeding from the facial region can potentially turn into a life-threatening situation if it is not treated timely.
First, rinse your mouth with lukewarm water to remove any tooth chips or debris. Next, apply a clean gauze or cloth
over the bleeding site and gently press over it to stop the bleeding.
If there is swelling, apply an ice pack over the affected side of the face to minimize inflammation. Call your dentist
to request an emergency appointment if the bleeding does not stop.
5. An Object Stuck Between the Teeth
If there is something stuck between adjacent teeth, it can cause severe pain and even injury. If you feel that an
object is stuck between your teeth, gently rinse your mouth with water to remove it. If that is unsuccessful, you may
use dental floss to remove it.
However, you should never use any sharp object like a pen or a toothpick to dislodge it, as it can injure the gums or
even cause infection. If nothing works, call your dentist for emergency dental treatment.
6. Dislodged Filling
A dislodged filling can cause severe pain if the underlying sensitive tissues of the teeth (dentine and pulp) are
exposed. If you or a loved one has lost a filling, it is vital to see the dentist immediately.
The dentist will examine the affected tooth and look at its X-ray images. If a small portion of the filling has broken
away, they will restore the tooth with a suitable filling. On the other hand, if the damage is significant, they may
reinforce the tooth with a crown after the filling. Moreover, a root canal procedure may sometimes be needed to treat the inflammation of the underlying pulp.
How To Prevent Dental Emergencies
It is impossible to avoid dental emergencies altogether. However, there are ways to minimize them; the most effective
is prevention. Here are some steps you can take to prevent dental emergencies.
- Do not use your teeth as tools. You should not use your teeth as pliers or can openers. It can lead to tooth
fracture or injury. - Pay Attention While Eating Hard Food. Avoid eating hard food too fast. Bone chips, nuts or other hard food can
dislodge a filling or a crown and may even fracture a tooth. - Wear Mouth Guards. If you or your kids are involved in contact sports, wearing a mouthguard is the best way to
prevent your teeth from accidental damage. On average, over 3 million teeth are knocked out each year during
sports-related activities4. A mouth guard can help preserve your teeth and smile.
Emergency Dental Services in Mississauga
Dental emergencies come unannounced and should never be taken lightly. Seeking dental help timely in the case of an
emergency can save your teeth and help avoid time-consuming, expensive treatments.
Caminschi Family Dentistry Mississauga is here to cater to all your dental treatment needs in Mississauga. Contact us today if you or a loved one experiences a situation that requires urgent dental care.
References
- https://www.ada.org/-/media/project/ada-organization/ada/ada-org/files/resources/coronavirus/covid-19-practice-resources/ada_covid19_dental_emergency_dds.pdf?rev=51b8c64b2b6e45f1a7edca6343be8985&hash=DB74D9EA759D90C491B3B0EE7D934A88
- https://www.oda.ca/oral-health-basics/dental-emergencies/
- https://www.cda-adc.ca/en/oral_health/talk/complications/emergencies/index.asp#:~:text=First%20call%20your%20dentist.,pills%20on%20your%20sore%20tooth
- Huang Q, Li Z, Lyu P, Zhou X, Fan Y. Current Applications and Future Directions of Lasers in Endodontics: A
Narrative Review. Bioengineering. 2023 Feb 26;10(3):296.
