Emergency Dentistry: How to Survive a Dental Emergency

Dental Emergency in Concord NCEmergency dentistry will always be in high demand. Given our hectic and active day-to-day lives, we are bound to experience accidents at some point or another. In fact, in the U.S. alone, more than 5 million teeth are knocked loose each year. That’s over $500 million a year that we spend to replace those teeth!

The majority of dental emergencies occur during sports related activities. We know that asking patients to refrain from the activities that they love is unfair and unrealistic. These activities are what make life richer. Instead, we are dedicated to serving you when you experience a dental emergency. At Clifford C. Compton III’s dental practice, we offer emergency dentistry to help save and restore your smile when you’ve suffered an accident.

What is Emergency Dentistry?

A dental emergency is any injury that causes pain or damage to the tooth, gums or supporting structures. Emergency dentistry seeks to treat these accidents to restore your oral health.

Some examples of a dental emergency include:

  • A knocked out tooth
  • A tooth that is forced out of position
  • A chipped or fractured tooth
  • A broken tooth
  • Cuts in the lips, gums or cheeks

As with any emergency, seeking help immediately is the most important thing to remember. The sooner you seek treatment for your dental emergency, the better your chance of restoring the natural tooth.

Emergency Dentistry for Children

The majority of dental emergencies occur in children. This is usually attributed to their lack of concern for safety and their energetic activities. Caring for children during dental emergencies is different than caring for adults.

If a child damages a primary tooth, also known as a baby tooth, its appearance can be restored. Additionally, if a primary tooth is loosened, it can be fixed and set securely back into position. However, if a primary tooth is knocked loose, dentists usually avoid replanting the tooth as it can damage the permanent tooth underneath.

Knowing what to do in the event of a dental emergency can ultimately save the tooth. The short amount of time between the incident and seeing a dentist is crucial and knowing what to do will increase your chances of saving the tooth.

If you suffer from a tooth that is chipped, fractured or broken, rinse the mouth with water and collect the pieces of tooth if you can. If there is swelling or pain apply a cold compress to the cheek and take aspirin. Immediately call your dentist.

If you suffer from a tooth that has been knocked out, keep the tooth! Handle the tooth by the crown, do not remove any tissue fragments that are still attached to the tooth. If possible, reinsert the tooth into its socket. If the tooth does not stay in the socket, keep it wet by placing it in a container of either saltwater or milk. Immediately visit your doctor.

If you suffer from any dental emergency or have questions on what to do when an emergency occurs, visit us at Clifford C. Compton III or call us today at (704) 786-8825.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *