Dental injuries come in all shapes and sizes. Some may be considered minor while others require more invasive and extensive treatment. Knowing what to expect when meeting with your dentist can help alleviate any fears or concerns you might have. This is why you are encouraged to review these three common dental emergencies and the kind of care you can prepare to receive when visiting your dentist’s office.
Emergency #1: A Cracked Tooth
A cracked tooth can occur for many reasons. Whether it is brought on by facial trauma (i.e., an accidental fall) or biting into something hard, such as nuts or ice, the damage caused to one or more teeth requires immediate attention.
While it’s normal to experience pain, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever and use a cold compress to minimize swelling and discomfort.
Once at the dentist’s office, you can expect that they will take diagnostic images of your smile to locate the crack and determine its severity. If minor, it may be addressed using cosmetic bonding; however, if it hinders the tooth from functioning normally, a customized crown may be required.
Emergency #2: An Extreme Toothache
A simple toothache might stem from a piece of food that is lodged between your teeth, but a nagging, unrelenting toothache is usually the result of a more serious infection.
Should you experience pain that lasts hours or even days, you’ll need to call and schedule an emergency appointment with your dentist. In the meantime, you can take an OTC pain reliever to alleviate achiness and discomfort.
Your dentist may find that the pulp of your tooth is inflamed or infected, in which case, it will need to be removed with the help of root canal treatment. However, if an abscessed tooth is the issue, tooth extraction will likely be required.
Neglecting timely treatment will only cause your symptoms to worsen.
Emergency #3: A Lost Dental Filling or Crown
It’s natural to feel panicked when losing a dental filling or crown, but the truth is that because they are not restorations that are designed to last a lifetime, they’re bound to need replacement.
If your dental filling or crown falls out for any reason, avoid chewing on that side of your mouth, as food particles and pressure can irritate the vulnerable tooth. Also, be careful when cleaning this particular tooth.
Once you arrive for your emergency appointment, you can expect that your dentist will either re-bond the restoration back into place or replace it with a new tooth-colored filling or a fully customized dental crown.
The important thing to remember is that you should never panic when faced with a serious dental injury. Understanding at-home and in-office protocols for dental emergencies can help put your mind at ease and feel more comfortable when dealing with these types of situations.
About Grand Dental – Lake Zurich
At Grand Dental – Lake Zurich, dental emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere. This is why we want our patients to have the information needed to manage their symptoms while waiting to see a member of our qualified team. Visit our website or call (847) 443-3953 to learn how we can help.