How to Handle a Dental Emergency

Even if you are meticulous about brushing, flossing, and preventative dental care, you may occasionally face a dental emergency. Wondering what to do in this type of situation? Well, the specifics vary based on what’s happening, but here are some essential tips to help you out.

Stabilize the Situation

First, you need to stabilize the situation. For instance, if you are in a lot of pain, you need to take steps to subdue the pain—some ideas are outlined below. If you have suffered a traumatic accident or injury and your mouth is bleeding, you need to rinse away the blood and try to figure out the source of the injury. Additionally, if you have lost a tooth, rinse it off and try to put it back in the socket. If that’s not possible, put the tooth in some saliva to keep it wet until you can take it to the emergency dentist.

Decide If You Need Immediate Help

Once the dental emergency is relatively stable, decide if you need immediate help. With mouth injuries, that’s relatively easy to determine. If you are missing a tooth, you need to see the emergency dentist as quickly as possible. On the other hand, if your tooth is just chipped, you can likely wait until the next day or even for a few days. Similarly, if you have mouth cuts that won’t stop bleeding, you also need to get help right away.

With a toothache, it can be a little more difficult to determine if the situation is an emergency. In all cases, you should make an appointment for the next day or as soon as you can get in. Remember, if you ignore a toothache, the pain can intensify and the decay can spread. However, if the pain is so intense that you can’t sleep, you need to call an emergency dentist. Additionally, if you have a fever, also call for emergency help. A fever can indicate an infection.

Get Help If Needed

If you’re going in to the emergency dentist, you may want to bring a friend or relative with you. A dental emergency can often be painful, and you won’t be able to drive yourself home if you take certain pain medications. Ask your dentist what to expect before you come to the appointment so you know whether or not you bring someone to help you.

Make Yourself Comfortable

In cases where you have to wait for your appointment, you should take steps to make yourself comfortable. To that end, you may want to try topical relief options. Some people like to apply ice to their face on the side of the toothache, while others prefer to use clove oil or gels designed to subdue tooth pain. Additionally, you may want to take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

You don’t have to face a dental emergency on your own. Contact Buckhead Cosmetic and Family Dentistry today. We are a new cosmetic dentist in the Buckhead area of Atlanta, GA, and we’re happy to answer any questions you have.