Certain circumstances warrant a google search on “emergency dentist near me”. You’ve chipped a tooth, are in extreme pain, or have met with an accident that led to tooth loss or uncontrollable bleeding. Should these conditions arise outside of business hours or over the weekend, you have to find yourself an emergency dentist – and fast!
What do you do? If you’re looking for emergency dental service in Brooklyn, you should come over to Le Sueur Family Dental.
But what constitutes a dental emergency? Read on to find out.
What Qualifies As A Dental Emergency?
To determine if your current condition requires urgent dental care, ask yourself the following questions –
- Is your pain severe? Is it controlled by over-the-counter painkillers? Extreme pain that doesn’t go away on ingesting medication is suggestive of an emergency.
- Are you experiencing uncontrollable bleeding from the mouth? Rush to your nearest ER or emergency dentist ASAP.
- Is there tooth loss? Adults shouldn’t be losing teeth. Irrespective of pain or not, tooth loss is a serious problem and requires immediate intervention.
- Do you have any signs of infection? An abscess or an infection in your oral cavity can be potentially life-threatening. Waste no time in getting in touch with an emergency dentist near you.
What Is A Dental Emergency and How To Deal With One
Tooth Loss
Infections and injury can lead to tooth loss; although this situation is more common among children than adults.
If you experience tooth loss, pick the tooth up by its crown. Don’t pick it up by the root because it can damage the tooth. Rinse it under running water without rubbing it. Try to place it back into the socket and hold it in place with the help of a clean gauze or paper towel. If you find yourself unable to place the tooth in position, dunk it into a glass of milk or water. Get in touch with your emergency dentist stat since time is of the essence when it comes to tooth loss.
Displaced Tooth
Sometimes, a tooth might simply displace within the socket instead of falling out. This can occur due to an injury or a tooth pushing against the adjacent one (in instances of wisdom teeth).
Displacement can be a pretty painful condition and is considered a dental emergency. Additionally, a displaced tooth that isn’t aligned back into position can sustain permanent damage. Avoid trying to fix the issue yourself and call your emergency dentist.
If displacement occurs due to the eruption of a wisdom tooth, it can cause discomfort. While this isn’t a dental emergency per se, it is recommended that you visit your dentist sooner than later.
Facial Injuries
Trauma to the face or mouth area can cause bleeding and broken teeth along with trauma to the soft tissues. Injuries to the face can also lead to shattered teeth, broken teeth, or simply cracked teeth.
While a small chip might not appear to be a dental emergency, it is best to see your dentist as soon as you can. This helps protect the integrity of the tooth structure. If you have uncontrollable bleeding that doesn’t stop even after pressure application requires emergency medical intervention.
Until you get to the emergency room, apply constant pressure to the injured area with a clean cloth or gauze. Take a painkiller to help alleviate the pain. If you have an emergency dentist, get in touch with them immediately. Make sure you keep any broken fragments of the affected teeth safe.
Toothache
Toothaches occur due to a plethora of reasons – deep cavities, root canal infections, erupting or impacted wisdom teeth, injury, etc. Chronic infections cause severe toothache along with facial swelling, abscess (pus drainage), and sometimes difficulty in breathing or swallowing.
While strong painkillers might help with the pain, they don’t solve the underlying issue. Rinsing with a cup of lukewarm water mixed with a tablespoon of salt also helps relieve the pain, albeit temporarily. Visit the “emergency dentist near me” as soon as possible, especially if you have pus drainage since this can be life-threatening.
Impaired Dental Work
Dislodged fillings or dental crowns, broken wires of braces, or broken dentures are pretty common issues that patients experience. While not exactly emergencies, patients might feel discomfort should any of these issues arise.
Keep the dislodged bracket, crown, or broken denture safe with you, and call your emergency dentist.
What Does An Emergency Dentist Do?
Emergency dentists are capable of treating various dental emergencies. Most emergency dentists allow walk-in appointments and offer them immediate care. This makes them highly dependable in situations that warrant same-day emergency dentists.
An emergency dentist is an expert at quickly diagnosing and determining the mode of treatment required to treat a particular condition. In case of emergency needs, it can be difficult to schedule an appointment with a general dentist since they might not be available. This is precisely why emergency dentists are imperative for your oral health.
When Should I Contact An Emergency Dentist?
If you or someone you know is experiencing –
- Severe toothache
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Broken or chipped tooth
- Tooth or teeth that have fallen out
- Damaged dental work
- A state of unrest due to your dental health
Get in touch with your emergency dentist. Irrespective of whether the emergency occurs during business hours or outside of it, give them a call.
In case you find yourself in a situation where you can’t get in touch with your dentist, head over to your nearest ER. They can provide the first aid care that you need and also assist you in getting in touch with a dentist.
At Le Sueur Family Dental, we provide emergency treatment and same-day appointments to tend to your dental needs. Call us at (507) 665-6812 to schedule a visit with our in-house dentists and get your issues sorted ASAP. With prompt care provided by an emergency dentist near you, you can make certain that immediate issues do not become long-term complications.
