As with all other types of healthcare, dentistry includes both general procedures and emergency dental issues. Chances are if you suspect you have a
dental emergency in Mississauga, you probably are, even if you don’t know all the details. Knowing what an emergency is and what type can help you get the right treatment. Here are 10 common dental issues that are considered to be dental emergencies.
Lost Tooth
If you find a tooth missing, you should contact your dentist immediately (you have about 30 minutes for a strong possibility that you can get the tooth reimplanted) to check your gums and the tooth socket for damage. Usually, a lost tooth is due to trauma or impact to the face, however, in some cases, it is due to severe decay and neglect.
Rinse the tooth off and try to put it back in the socket before your dental appointment. If you are unable to do that, place it in milk.
When a tooth comes out the area can become infected and cause ongoing issues for your oral health, so getting a dentist to examine the area is essential.
Cracked or Broken Tooth
A cracked or broken tooth can be caused by eating something, trauma to the face, excessive stress which leads to tooth grinding. A cracked tooth can be very painful, especially if it exposes a nerve, and can leave the tooth vulnerable to bacteria or further cracks and breaks.
Book an appointment right away. It’s important to get an x-ray to see how bad the tooth is and surrounding areas. If untreated, it could lead to an abscess, further decay, more pain and you might need a root canal or at worst, a tooth extraction.
Severe Toothache
On a scale of 1 being nothing and 10 being you cannot sleep at night, how severe is the toothache?
Even a light toothache is not a normal condition; however, it could be something harmless. First check to see if you have a popcorn kernel (or some other debris) in your gums or if the tooth is sensitive to hold or cold food/drinks.
Otherwise, if the pain is considerable, make an appointment with the dentist soon. You can take a painkiller in the meantime while you are waiting for the appointment. However, in some cases the pain may be too severe such that off the shelf remedies have no effect.
If you cannot sleep at night and the pain at a level 10 unbearable, it could be due to an abscess.
Tooth Extraction
In some cases,
your tooth might need to be extracted. As mentioned above, this can be due to severe decay, broken or cracked teeth, or knocked out tooth.
Dental Abscess
If you suspect you have an abscess, this is a high priority medical emergency. Do not wait, book an appointment with any dental office that can see you right away. A dental abscess can lead to sepsis and is life threatening.
Root Canal
Some dental emergencies need a
root canal. Usually, a root canal is needed when there is severe tooth decay or an abscess or some cracked or broken teeth. In this case, this is a painless procedure that will help prevent future problems. The dentist will clean out the nerves in the teeth and recommend a natural looking, durable crown on top.
Bleeding Gums
Gingivitis is an early warning sign of gum problems – specifically plaque and tartar build up. However, if the bleeding it causes usually lasts a short while. You should not ignore it, and make an appointment to see your dentist, but it would not be an emergency. However, if your gums start bleeding, and continue to do so without stopping, this indicates something much more severe, and you need to seek help immediately.
It could be a sign of periodontitis (a much more severe form of gingivitis) or a number of other problems, you need to seek an emergency appointment and consult a dental professional as quickly as possible.
Lost or Damaged Dental Crown
It is really important to seek an emergency appointment as quickly as you can. Not only can it be painful, but if left as it is, this issue can compromise the long-term treatment and cause problems for your crown later.
If you still have it, try to use some denture adhesive and place it back in your mouth before your appointment. That way, you can minimize how much the remaining tooth is exposed to bacteria and further trauma – especially from food that can get into the exposed tooth.
Broken Dentures
If you damage your dentures, it can be more than an inconvenience, it can prevent you eating properly and leave you with difficulty in just getting through your normal day. Not only that, but a broken denture can cause pain in the mouth leading to other issues.
Try to use some denture adhesive to keep it in place or fix it temporarily before your appointment.
As a result, if you do have problems with a denture, you should make an emergency appointment with your dentist to solve the problem. Your dentist may be able to repair the dentures or begin the process to make new ones for you.
Broken Braces or Broken Orthodontic Wire
This is not an urgent emergency but is problematic nonetheless. Until you get into the dentist, cover the exposed area with wax and try to use nail clippers to cut the broken wire so it’s not sticking out into your gums or mouth.
