When you were young, think about how often your school performed a fire drill each year. While they may have gotten boring after a while, they served an important purpose. In an emergency, knowing exactly who to call, where to go, and what to do is critical. But how many of you reading this know what to do in a dental emergency? You should, because dental emergencies are more common than you might think. According to the American Association of Endodontists, over 5 million teeth are knocked out each year, and that’s just one type of emergency! Should you or a loved one require emergency dentistry, call an emergency dentist like Dr. Seerat Mann of the Mini Dental Implant Center of America in Scottsdale, AZ (MDICA Scottsdale).
What Is a Dental Emergency?
A dental emergency can take many forms, but the common factor between them is that they require immediate treatment. Contact MDICA Scottsdale right away if you’re experiencing any of the following:
- Knocked-out tooth
- Severe toothache
- Cracked tooth
- Dental abscess (intense swelling of the jaw or face)
- Partially dislodged tooth
- Soft tissue injury with severe bleeding
- Lost or broken dental restoration
We can deal with a wide variety of emergencies—everything from performing root canals for painful, infected teeth to a full-mouth reconstruction for severe dental trauma.
What’s Not a Dental Emergency?
Sometimes, a minor injury, infection, or accident can be annoying, but it doesn’t require immediate attention. These issues should still be addressed quickly, but you can do so at a regularly scheduled appointment.
- Tiny crack or chip in the tooth
- Dull, small toothache
- Minor cuts on the cheeks, lips, or gums
- Food or other object stuck between your teeth
Same-Day Emergency Appointments
Many dental emergencies, such as a knocked-out or chipped tooth, can be saved if you act quickly enough. Getting treatment within the hour increases the chances of success significantly. That’s why our office reserves time for same-day emergency appointments throughout the day.
If you call with a dental emergency, we will do our absolute best to see you as soon as possible. Our knowledgeable staff can give you instructions on what to do and how to manage your symptoms while you wait. If you call after hours, our voicemail will have instructions, or there may be an on-call dentist available to see you. The most important thing is to seek professional help rather than wait and let your symptoms worsen.
Should I Go to the Emergency Room?
While your first instinct might be to go to the hospital, most hospitals are not equipped with the specialized dental equipment (or dental professionals!) needed to treat oral health emergencies properly. They can help with pain management, uncontrollable bleeding, and serious injuries to your face or jaw that might require surgical intervention. If that’s what you’re experiencing, you should seek immediate attention at the ER. But for most other dental emergencies, your best bet is to find an emergency dentist like Dr. Mann. She can treat your symptoms quickly and effectively with modern techniques and the latest dental technology.
Example: How To Manage a Knocked-Out Tooth
Whether caused by an accident or an unfortunate injury, knocked-out teeth are some of the most common dental emergencies. However, you can take steps to help rescue your tooth—and potentially even reattach it yourself!
The first step is to find the tooth and grasp it by the “chewing end,” not the tooth root. Gently brush off any dirt (don’t use water!), and if possible, attempt to reinsert the tooth into its socket. Make sure you have it facing the right way, and don’t force it if it doesn’t go in.
If that doesn’t work, you can put your tooth into a container of milk to preserve it. Should you not have any milk on hand, you can keep it in your mouth, but be careful not to swallow it. If you reach us within an hour, we can reinsert the tooth so the roots can reattach to your jawbone. Even if it takes longer, there’s a chance we can still save the tooth, but quick action will increase those odds.
Call Our Emergency Dentist Right Away
In a dental emergency, time is of the essence. The sooner you can get treatment, the more likely the chance we can save your tooth and deal with your issue quickly. Don’t allow your symptoms to get worse; call MDICA Scottsdale immediately to schedule a same-day emergency appointment. We can help relieve your pain, deal with infection, and restore your teeth to their original healthy state.
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