Emergency Dentistry: Are You Ready?
Have you ever thought of life without teeth? Forget about chewing or eating the food. Life without teeth is even more pathetic. You would neither be able to speak distinctly without teeth nor be able to smile freely. A smile can boost your confidence and open avenues for employment or relationships.
Understanding Dental Emergency
The dentist should be the first person to contact if you are facing dental issues. But the case can be problematic if you face a dental emergency in the middle of the night or during a holiday. Then you may look for a dentist near you, and there is a few dentist Oakland, CA, who provide emergency dentistry.
Before you rush to the dentist, you need to understand which dental issues can be termed as an emergency. Any dental problem that needs immediate dental care and treatment is a dental emergency. Any injury or trauma to the gums and teeth can also be a dental emergency. Ignoring dental emergencies might lead to permanent loss of teeth or extensive and expensive treatment later.
It is advised to visit the dentist at regular intervals for a comprehensive dental examination. Dental emergencies are characterized by discomfort, severe pain, bleeding from the gums, or a knocked-out tooth. A lost filling, cracked veneers, or a broken mouthguard or dental appliance can also be a dental emergency.
Not all dental issues are dental emergencies. The following can be symptoms of dental emergencies:
- Severe pain coupled with bleeding from the gums.
- A lost or knocked-out tooth.
- A loose tooth can be a sign of a dental emergency. Adults generally do not have a loose tooth.
- Abscesses or gum infections can be a dental emergency.
- Bleeding from the gums, even without dental aches, can be a dental emergency.
Common Dental Emergencies
Here are some common dental emergencies explained for you.
Knocked-out Tooth
If you can preserve the knocked-out tooth, the emergency dentist near you can re-insert the tooth in its socket. You may also keep the lost tooth in a small container of milk to save the tooth.
Chipped Tooth
You may clean your mouth with warm water if you suffer from a severe dental fracture or pain. You may also apply an alternate hot and cold compress on the outside of the face to reduce the swelling. Using numbing gel or painkillers can also reduce pain.
Abscessed Tooth
A dental abscess is a potentially life-threatening incident with pus in between two teeth. An abscessed tooth is a pocket of pus formed between two teeth or other parts of the oral cavity due to bacterial infection. An abscessed tooth can cause moderate to severe pain and can radiate to the ears and neck.
Avoiding Potential Dental Emergency
Prevention is better than cure. It is advised to ensure good care of gums, teeth, and the oral cavity as a whole to avoid dental emergencies. A regular visit to the dentist and dental cleaning can be beneficial. During visits to the dentist, you can get the dental fillings checked.
A loose crown can be set right through regular visits to the dentist. A tailor-made dental checkup and treatment plan can ensure that dental cavities or a loose tooth do not lead to tooth loss. A comprehensive dental checkup can keep such dental ailments at bay and ensure that you have a bright, flawless smile.
Tips to Avoid Dental Emergency
The following tips can be beneficial to avoid dental emergencies.
- Never use your teeth to cut things or objects. Using a knife or scissors is customary.
- Avoid chewing hard foods like ice, kernels, or hard candies to avoid cracking your tooth.
- Wear mouthguards before participating in soccer, hockey, or any contact sport.
- Getting dental sealants for your children can be a good way to avoid tooth abscesses or cavities.
- Intake of doses of the vitamin can keep your gums and teeth healthy and make them resistant to infections.
The Bottom Line
All dental emergencies cannot be treated at home. Hot and cold compress might reduce the pain, but visiting the dentist is of utmost importance. If you are looking for a dentist in 94612, Franklin Dental care can be the dental clinic to meet your emergency dentistry needs. We provide high-quality dental care with the best possible after-care facility. Our vastly experienced dentists take a proactive yet conservative approach towards dental issues and ensure your comfort easiness while being treated. You may book an appointment for comprehensive dental care and emergency dentistry.