Emergency Dentistry Care in Scarborough, ON
When faced with a medical emergency, most people know exactly what to do - call their regular doctor if they have one, or go to the emergency room for treatment, depending on the severity of the problem. And while many people have a dentist they trust and have visited for years, the nature of dental work makes it so that appointments are typically planned, sometimes weeks or even months in advance.
However when faced with a dental emergency, many people find themselves at a loss of where to go and what to do. Just like a medical emergency, it is important to treat dental trauma and other problems in a timely manner in order to avoid complications and risk permanent damage.
Dental Emergency Treatment
One of the most common dental problems to require emergency care is sudden tooth loss or breaks, usually caused by trauma or a fall. Although dental accidents are not generally life threatening, getting immediate care from a dentist is necessary in order to help preserve the tooth and the smile's overall appearance. Even small breaks can cause nerve injuries through bacteria build up in the soft pulp inside the tooth, potentially resulting in permanent damage if left untreated. A tooth fracture that might seem to be little more than a cosmetic problem can sometimes actually need a root canal to prevent infection and nerve damage.
Traumatic Dental Injuries
A knocked-out permanent tooth requires quick thinking and immediate action. You'll increase the chances that the tooth can be saved if you pick it up without touching the root, gently clean it off with water, and put it back in its socket facing the correct way. Hold it in place with gentle pressure as you rush to the dental office or emergency room. If you can't replant it immediately, tuck it between the patient's cheek and gum, or carry it in a container of cold milk.
For a more traumatic injury such as a tooth that has been moved or loosened, treatment needs to occur within six hours. However, if there is uncontrollable bleeding, go immediately to the ER. Fortunately, other dental injuries that happen most frequently are less severe. The most common traumatic dental injuries are chipped teeth. If a tooth is chipped, try to find any pieces that have come off, as it might be possible to reattach them. Make an appointment for an office visit as soon as possible, and bring the pieces with you.
Tooth Pain
Acute or persistent tooth pain always signals a need for an urgent visit to the dental office. The most common cause of dental pain is tooth decay, a bacterial infection that can spread through many parts of the tooth, and even into the gum tissue. Sometimes, tooth pain indicates that you may need a root canal treatment — a procedure that not only relieves the pain of an infection deep inside the tooth, but also can keep the tooth from having to be removed. Other times, pain may be caused by a loose filling or sensitive tooth. The only way to know for sure what's causing your tooth pain is to make an appointment at the dental office right away.
Gum Emergencies
Injuries and infections involving the soft tissues of the mouth may also require emergency treatment. The tissues of the gums, tongue, or cheek lining can be damaged by accidental bites, falls, sports injuries, and scalding liquids. They may also suffer injury from foreign bodies that become lodged below the gum line, and they can develop painful and potentially serious abscesses. A periodontal (gum) abscess is a pus-filled sac caused by an infection and is usually quite painful. Abscesses require immediate attention at the dental office.
Any injury to the soft tissues of the mouth should be rinsed with dilute salt water. If there is visible debris, it should be cleared. Bleeding can usually be controlled by pressing a clean, damp material to the area for 10-15 minutes. If this does not work, go to the emergency room immediately.
A foreign body lodged beneath the gum line can sometimes be gently worked out with dental floss or a toothpick. But if this can't be accomplished easily, make a dental appointment so the area does not become damaged and/or infected.
Orthodontic Emergencies
Although there can be discomfort associated with orthodontic treatment, there are only a few true orthodontic emergencies. They include trauma or injury to the teeth, face or mouth. Infection or swelling of the gums, mouth or face, and severe, unmanageable discomfort or pain in these areas can also be orthodontic emergencies. In any of these situations, seek immediate care from the dental office or emergency room — whichever is your best option. For loose, broken or irritating pieces of orthodontic hardware, please call the dental office for advice.
Other types of dental emergencies include:
- Inflammation
- Bacterial infection
- Abscess
- Loose tooth
- Knocked out tooth
- Cuts and lacerations to the gums, tongue, lips, and cheeks