Blog

Dental emergencies can be shocking. They strike unexpectedly out of nowhere and, in most cases, patients would bleed a lot and be in a lot of pain. So, knowing what to do in that situation can be the difference between saving or losing a tooth. Hence, it is crucial to act swiftly to keep your dental emergency from causing permanent damage.

What are the common dental emergencies we have to be ready for?

• Oral Injuries

Oral injuries could be caused by a bad fall, automobile accidents, sports-related injuries, biting or chewing anything too hard, etc. It can lead to painful conditions such as broken or cracked teeth, cuts or bruises to the soft tissues, chipped teeth, and other concerns. Therefore, it is vital to pull yourself together when such a crisis occurs and reach out for help from your dentist.

Meanwhile, you can do first aid by rinsing your mouth with water to remove the dirt, blood, and broken tooth pieces. Also, control the bleeding by covering it with a clean piece of gauze. Press a cold pack on the cheek to lessen pain and swelling.

• Failed Restorations

Oral restorations have a certain lifetime, which usually ranges from three to seven years. After that time, they will have to be replaced. Failing to do so can lead to a broken restoration. 

Imagine having your dental crown or bridge falling off while you’re having dinner with your family and friends! It can be quite upsetting and embarrassing. More importantly, it could expose the underlying tooth surface to the microbes in the mouth, potentially leading to oral infections, extreme sensitivity, and pain. In case of a failed restoration, please reach out to your dentist at the earliest possible time and get it replaced with a new one.

• Avulsed Teeth

An avulsed tooth is a tooth that got uprooted from the jawbone completely by a severe impact on the teeth, face, or other parts of the head. This rare but extremely painful situation is characterized by the disturbing of the adjoining nerves and blood vessels. This can cause severe pain and bleeding. 

Acting swiftly in this situation can allow us to save your tooth even though it has been knocked off from your mouth. Pick up the tooth but please hold it only by the crown. And then rinse it with clean water to remove the dirt. After that, place the tooth in a glass of milk to keep the tissues from deteriorating. And then rush to a dentist immediately with the tooth, and we may be able to place it back in the socket.

In case of these or any other dental emergency, please call Grace Dental, Sugar Land,  at (281) 340-1333, and we’ll guide you further.