5 Most Common Types of Dental Emergencies
If you are experiencing pain or discomfort, emergency dental care can help you alleviate pain and find any issues early. Emergency dental care includes a wide range of emergency services such as removing wisdom teeth, fixing dentures, loose caps, swelling, chipped, or cracked teeth.
While there are some emergencies you should go to the hospital for, there are a few common dental emergencies that your dentist can help with. Below, we will explain why emergency dental care is so important, along with 5 of the most common types of dental emergencies.
Why is Emergency Dental Care Important?
Dental emergencies can be incredibly painful to experience. In addition to this, if something were to go wrong and you are in discomfort, leaving it for too long can end up making the issue worse. In some cases, immediate care can help spot and solve issues early to prevent further damage to your teeth. Emergency dental care can help provide immediate relief.
If you are suffering from a fractured jaw, dislocated jaw, or have deep cuts to the mouth that won’t stop bleeding, you should go directly to the hospital for emergency care. However, for severe toothache, swollen gums, or issues with your teeth that are causing intense discomfort and pain, your dental office is the best place to go.
5 of the Most Common Types of Dental Emergencies
If you are experiencing severe pain and discomfort in and around your mouth, it can be beneficial to have this checked as soon as possible. Emergency dental care can cover a wide range of services but are all aimed at providing you with relief from intense dental pain. Here are 5 of the most common types of dental emergencies:
1. Wisdom teeth
Wisdom teeth are your third set of molars at the back of your mouth. While some people have wisdom teeth that fit perfectly in their mouth, others can find them incredibly painful as they are too big for the mouth. In addition to this, sometimes wisdom teeth come in at the wrong angle and press against your other teeth. This can cause discomfort, cavities, or even gum disease as you may not be able to properly reach your wisdom teeth with your toothbrush.
If you are experiencing intense pain at the back of your mouth, this could mean that your wisdom teeth are coming in and are pushing against your other teeth. If this is the case, it can help to book an appointment to have them surgically removed. When you meet with your dentist, they will be able to guide you on what to do next and will book your next appointment to have your wisdom teeth removed.
The surgery itself will only take around 45 minutes and is usually done in the office. During the removal, you will be placed under some kind of anesthetic. This can either be a local anesthetic, such as nitrous oxide, or a general anesthetic that will put you to sleep for the entire surgery.
Once your surgery is complete it will take a while for the anesthetic to wear off. During this time, you should rest as much as possible and use an ice pack on your jaw to help reduce the swelling. In addition to this, eat only soft foods such as pasta, rice, or soup.
2. Critical cosmetic repair
If you have damage or issues with any cosmetic work that has been done on your teeth, you should come in for an emergency appointment as soon as you can. Damage to your veneers can end up causing discomfort and pain if not repaired efficiently. Chipped, cracked, or missing veneers can also look out of place and should be replaced as soon as possible.
Veneers are custom-made to fit your exact teeth so it may take a while to custom-make replacements for you. However, if you manage to get an emergency appointment, you can get temporary veneers while you wait. This will help you go about your normal day without having to worry about your cracked or missing veneers.
3. Loose caps
If you have a crown that is loose, you should always visit your dentist for emergency assistance. While you may think you can just use glue and fit your crown back in place by yourself, this is not a good idea. Most glues have toxic chemicals in them that can be poisonous when ingested.
If your crown has come loose and you have accidentally swallowed it, don’t worry. Crowns are made from non-toxic chemicals and will pass without any issues. However, if your crown is loose or missing, you should get this replaced quickly as it can cause more damage to your teeth. To avoid further damage, avoid chewing with the crownless tooth.
4. Cracked or loose dentures
Dentures are custom-made dental prosthetics that can help you replace a missing tooth, teeth, or all your teeth. If something happens to your dentures like a crack or break, avoid wearing them as much as you can. Wearing broken dentures can be uncomfortable and can cause more harm to your mouth. Dentures that are broken can end up cutting the inside of your mouth causing pain, discomfort, and possible infections as well. If your dentures are broken, you should take them to your dentist as soon as you can to have them fixed or replaced. It can be beneficial to have a second pair of dentures on hand for times like these as well. If you think you may need a second pair, be sure to ask your dentist to make another pair for you.
If you are having trouble with the fit of your dentures, this can also be incredibly difficult to deal with. Dentures that don’t fit will need to be tightened and can be done quickly at the dentist. This is why it is important to book an emergency appointment with your dentist if anything were to go wrong or if your dentures have become uncomfortable to wear.
5. Swelling
If you are suffering from abnormal swelling around your jaw or mouth, you should come in for an emergency appointment as soon as you can. Swelling can mean many things and it’s much safer to consult with your dentist for the best advice. If there happens to be an infection, it can be incredibly beneficial to have your dentist spot it and treat it.
Swelling can be incredibly uncomfortable and is sometimes painful to have to deal with. If you recognize any swelling, be sure to put an ice pack on it and book an emergency appointment at your earliest convenience.
Get Expert Emergency Care in Mission Viejo, CA
Dental emergencies can be painful to experience. Whenever something goes wrong, it is incredibly important to get urgent dental care for both your comfort and to prevent the issue from getting worse. Leaving emergencies for too long can result in further discomfort and more work needing to be done to solve the issue. If you need expert emergency care in Mission Viejo, look no further than Dentist4U.
For more information about the dental services that we offer at Dentist4U, feel free to visit our website. If you would like to ask us a question or book an appointment, reach out to us via our website or by giving us a call at (949) 455 9480.