What is a dental emergency?
Dental emergencies are injuries and illnesses that need more than routine dental care. Routine services are not urgent, and you can wait for a few days or weeks for the next available appointment. In contrast, dental emergencies require immediate care.
Getting care right away for a dental emergency could mean the difference between keeping your original tooth and needing a restoration later. The skilled dental team at Patrick Ryan, DMD, can quickly determine and complete the best treatment available for dental emergencies like:
- Broken teeth
- Knocked-out teeth
- Oral abscesses
- Severe periodontal disease
- Oral soft tissue trauma involving bleeding
Serious pain in your mouth and excessive bleeding are two signs of dental emergencies. Some dental emergencies happen quickly because of trauma to the mouth, like during automobile accidents or contact sports. Others, like periodontal disease, develop over time and eventually peak with lots of bleeding, pain, or both.
If you break a tooth or knock one out, you should keep the tooth or tooth fragment between your gum and cheek or safe in a container of milk until you can make it to the office for a possible repair.
How soon can I visit for a dental emergency?
The team at Patrick Ryan, DMD, leaves available time slots open at both locations for dental emergencies since they need immediate care. For the most part, you can schedule a same-day visit for your dental emergency.
As soon as the emergency happens, you should call the nearest office and describe the emergency to the staff member on the phone. They can tell you when to arrive and what you should do in the meantime to control bleeding, ease swelling, and prevent further damage to your mouth.
How can I prevent future dental emergencies?
Not all emergencies are preventable since they can happen by accident without warning. However, there are steps you can take that lower your chance of experiencing a dental emergency from an infection or injury.
To keep your smile intact and avoid the costs and time for emergency dental care, you should:
- Not chew on solid objects
- Not use your teeth instead of scissors or a knife to cut or tear
- Get dental cleanings twice a year
- Brush your teeth for at least two minutes, twice a day
- Replace your toothbrush every 2-3 months
- Floss every day
- Eat less sugar
- Wear a mouthguard for contact sports
- Start using a bite guard if you tend to grind your teeth at night
- Report any new oral symptoms to your dentist
Oral hygiene and regular health maintenance make a big difference in your susceptibility to dental emergencies. You should never ignore any concerning symptoms, like swelling, pain, or persistent sensitivity.
To find out more about dental emergency prevention and the care that is involved, call either Patrick Ryan, DMD, location, or use the online booking tool today.
