Any unfavorable situation related to the oral cavity that poses a great risk of further damage and requires immediate treatment is known as a dental emergency. Ignoring dental problems can increase your risk of permanent damage, eventually leading to more extensive and expensive treatment.
Emergency care offered by the dentist in the Newtonbrook West area of North York can help relieve several symptoms associated with dental emergencies. This aids in restoring your oral form, function, and aesthetics.
What is emergency dentistry?
Emergency dentistry is a discipline of dentistry that focuses on providing immediate dental treatments when you are experiencing dental emergencies. Dental crises are often severe and urgent disorders that can affect your overall oral health. They arise suddenly, causing alarming symptoms which require urgent dental care.
What is the purpose of emergency dentistry?
Emergency dentistry plays a crucial role in handling alarming oral problems that primarily focus:
- To relieve extreme pain
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- This could be a warning sign of infection and inflammation
- Acute or chronic pain often occurs if the infection spreads to the pulp, damaging the nerve endings
- To stop uncontrolled bleeding
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- Uncontrolled bleeding can occur as a result of severe dental trauma damaging the teeth or soft tissues surrounding them.
- To save a damaged tooth
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- Cracked or broken teeth require immediate attention since the broken pieces can be accidentally swallowed.
- To treat other dental problems such as:
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- Abscess (pus-filled pockets)
- Objects stuck in your gums or soft tissues
- Loose permanent tooth
- Displacement of an existing filling, crown, or bridge
How to protect your teeth during an emergency?
While you wait to reach your dentist for emergency care, there are certain first-aid tips to follow to prevent further damage.
- Knocked out (avulsed) tooth
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- Do not touch the tooth root
- Keep the tooth moist by placing it between your gums and tongue or by immersing it in either one of the following:
- Milk
- Plain water
- Saliva
- Objects stuck in your gums, tongue, or cheeks
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- Do not try to pull or extract the stuck object since this can do more harm
- Leave the object in its place and visit the dentist as soon as possible
- Lost filling/crown
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- Apply clove oil to the affected tooth to reduce pain and sensitivity
- Do not use any kind of glue to fix the crown
- Fractured tooth
- Rinse your mouth and the broken tooth fragment with lukewarm water
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- Apply gauze to arrest bleeding
- Use cold compression to reduce swelling
Conclusion
Dental emergencies need immediate treatment since, if left untreated, it can cause severe complications that could further damage your tooth and the surrounding structures. Emergency dentistry is an essential discipline that focuses on restoring oral functionality and aesthetics.
