What is considered emergency dentistry?
Emergency dentistry typically involves any situation where a patient is in pain. Our office considers this as an emergency and aims to see such patients as soon as possible to prevent the need for hospital visits.
When do I need to see a dentist if I have an emergency versus going to the emergency room?
Whether you should see a dentist or visit the emergency room depends on the severity and timing of your pain. If it’s during regular dental office hours and you’re in pain, try to see a dentist. However, if the pain is severe, such as not being able to breathe or swallow, or it occurs outside of office hours, visit the emergency room.
What are the most common dental emergencies that you can have and what should I do about them?
One of the most common issues is dental pain. For instance, you might wake up experiencing severe pain without understanding the cause. In such cases, it's advisable to contact a dental office for an examination. It's crucial to diagnose the issue before any treatment can commence, as there are various potential causes of dental pain.
It's important to identify the root of the problem to provide appropriate treatment. Another emergency scenario involves persistent pain that disrupts sleep. This often occurs when the nerve inside a tooth is dying, requiring immediate attention from a dentist. Additionally, facial swelling that progressively worsens is a sign of infection. In this situation, prompt dental consultation is necessary to prevent the condition from escalating to a level that requires hospitalization.
How can I tell that my wisdom tooth teeth are the ones that are hurting and what should I do about this?
Identifying wisdom tooth pain can be challenging without professional help. However, some common signs include pain at the back of your mouth, headaches, difficulty opening or closing your mouth, and swelling. If these symptoms persist despite taking painkillers, it's advisable to see a dentist for potential wisdom tooth extraction.
Why are my gums bleeding? Is this normal?
To address this, it's important to understand that healthy gums do not bleed. If your gums are bleeding, it indicates an underlying issue. This could be something as simple and reversible as gingivitis, which is the initial stage of gum disease. However, the problem could be more severe, such as periodontitis. In periodontitis, not only is there an infection at the gum level, but there is also bone loss. This can lead to loose teeth and potentially result in tooth loss.
These are just a few possibilities when experiencing bleeding gums. It is crucial to consult a dentist for a proper diagnosis. This is especially important because bleeding gums can also be a symptom of more serious conditions, such as certain types of cancer. A dental professional can accurately diagnose the cause and recommend appropriate treatment.
What should I do if I have a broken or a fractured tooth?
Certainly, teeth breaking is not a normal occurrence and requires immediate attention. The first step is to determine why the tooth broke. Once the underlying cause is identified, it should be treated to prevent further dental issues. Additionally, the broken tooth itself needs assessment to decide if it can be repaired. If repairable, treatment should be carried out, often involving a cap to ensure the tooth remains functional for as long as possible.
It's crucial to maintain our teeth, and addressing dental emergencies promptly is a part of this. Even if over-the-counter medications alleviate the pain, it's essential to consult a dental professional. In our practice, we prioritize same-day appointments, especially for patients experiencing severe pain, tooth breakage, or facial swelling. Delaying treatment in these situations can lead to more severe problems, so immediate dental care is advisable.
What happens if I lose my crown, my crown is loose, my veneers came off, or my bridge came off?
If a crown, bridge, or veneer comes off, it indicates an underlying issue, as this is not a normal occurrence. At this point, it's crucial to consult a dental professional for a diagnosis to understand why this detachment happened.
In our practice, we focus on providing immediate assistance. We strive to offer the necessary treatment on the same day to restore the patient's dental health. An important piece of advice: if your crown, bridge, or veneer comes off, do not attempt to reattach it yourself. This can be hazardous, as there's a risk of swallowing or inhaling it, potentially leading to further health complications. Instead, visit our office so we can address and resolve the issue promptly.
What is the difference between a simple extraction and a surgical extraction?
A simple extraction refers to the removal of a tooth in one piece without significant intervention into the bone. In contrast, a surgical extraction involves more complex procedures. This may include opening the gums and drilling around the tooth for extraction. Addressing concerns about pain, many people hesitate to visit the dentist due to fear of discomfort. To minimize and manage pain effectively, we employ various strategies to ensure our patients experience the least amount of pain possible during dental procedures. These measures are designed to make the dental experience more comfortable and less daunting.
What do you do differently so that I can go to the dentist if I don’t want to feel pain?
Our dental practice is dedicated to making your visit as comfortable as possible. We understand that many people fear dentist visits, and we strive to make our patients feel like part of our family, ensuring they feel cared for and heard.
Why would I need an emergency root canal?
An emergency root canal is typically needed if you're experiencing persistent pain that keeps you up at night and doesn't respond to over-the-counter medication. This signals that the issue might be more than a simple cavity.
Do you offer same-day care?
Yes, we do offer same-day care. Our main goal is to make our patients feel comfortable and cared for, so we strive to accommodate them as much as possible and reduce the need for multiple visits.
If you have any other questions regarding dental emergencies, or if you want to set up an appointment, please feel free to give us a call at (941) 269-1332. We're always here to help you.
A dental emergency, whether it is experienced by your teeth, gums, or elsewhere, can have severe ramifications if ignored, especially when effects are permanent or require extensive, expensive treatment in the future. To prevent dental emergencies from occurring, you should always:
Wear a mouth guard when you are participating in sporting activities. Use a mouth guard to protect yourself, particularly if it is a contact sport like hockey, football, and boxing. Mouth guards can help prevent serious mouth injuries, including bleeding gums and chipped or knocked out teeth.
Eat carefully and wisely. Although teeth are strong, you can still crack or chip a tooth by eating hard candy, nuts, or chewing crunchy meat (bacon). Use caution when you bite down on these products, or simply remove them from your diet because they are not worth the risk of chipping a tooth.
Avoid chewing on items that are not edible. Many patients have oral tendencies, such as biting their nails or chewing on pens. This can cause cracks or chips in their teeth. Swap these items for sugarless chewing gum, a product that stimulates saliva production and cleanses bacteria.
Toothaches
Rinse your mouth with warm water and use dental floss to dislodge any food that lies between your teeth. When your mouth is swollen, apply a cold compress to the outside of your mouth or cheek. Aspirin, or any other painkiller, should not be put against your gums near the aching tooth since it may burn your gum tissue.
Chipped or Broken Tooth
Salvage any pieces and rinse them in warm water, along with your mouth. For bleeding, apply a piece of gauze to the area for roughly ten minutes or until the bleeding completely ceases. Then, apply a cold compress to the outside of your mouth, cheek, or lip near the broken or chipped tooth in order to limit any swelling and relieve discomfort.
Lost Filling
For the time being, prior to coming in, stick a piece of sugarless gum into the cavity or utilize an over-the-counter dental cement. Gum containing sugar will only augment your discomfort.
Misplaced Crown
Should you be unable to reach our dental clinic immediately and your tooth is causing significant pain, use a cotton swab to apply a small amount of clove oil to the sensitive area. You might have a chance of slipping the crown back over your tooth, though it is vital that you first coat the surface with an over-the-counter dental cement, toothpaste, or denture adhesive to help hold the crown in position.
Dislodged (Luxated) Teeth
Dislodged (also known as luxated) teeth, occur when a tooth is pushed sideways out of, or into, its socket. We can re-position and stabilize this tooth, but root canal treatment is usually needed if it happens to your permanent teeth, and should be performed within a few days after the injury. For children who experience this with their baby teeth, we will monitor the recovery process carefully, intervening the moment unfavorable changes occur.
Before arriving at our office, apply a cold compress to the outside of your mouth or cheek in the affected area to relieve any discomfort. An over-the-counter pain reliever, such as Tylenol or Advil, can also assist you in the meantime.
Knocked-Out (Avulsed) Tooth
Knocked-out (also known as avulsed) teeth, are exactly what they sound like – teeth that have been completely knocked out of their socket. Time is of the essence here. The tooth should be handled gently, without touching the root surface. A knocked-out tooth should be quickly and gently rinsed in water, without any soap or other cleaning agents. You should also avoid scraping or brushing the tooth with a toothbrush. If you can, place it back in its socket as soon as possible – the less time it spends outside its socket, the greater chance there is to save it. Once the tooth is placed back in its socket, we will check for other dental and facial injuries, and then a stabilizing splint will be placed for a few weeks to support the tooth. If the tooth cannot be placed back in its socket, you should place the tooth in a bag of milk and head to our dentist office, or nearest emergency room.
Soft-Tissue Injuries
An injury to the soft tissue in your mouth, such as the tongue, cheeks, gums, or lips, can cause bleeding. In this case, you can control the bleeding by following these steps:
- Rinse your mouth with a mild mixture of salt and water.
- With a moistened piece of gauze or tea bag, apply pressure to the bleeding area, holding it in place for 15-to-20-minutes.
- Hold a cold compress to the outside of your mouth or cheek in the impacted area for 5-to-10-minutes, as it will work to control bleeding and relieve pain.
- If the bleeding continues, despite your efforts, call our dental clinic or go to the nearest hospital emergency room. Keep applying pressure to the bleeding area with gauze until you are seen and treated.
Abscess
An abscess is an infection around the root of a tooth or within the space between your gums and teeth. These represent a severe condition that can harm tissue and surrounding teeth, as the infection can potentially spread to other parts of your body if neglected. To ease the discomfort and draw the pus near the surface, rinse your mouth with a mild saltwater solution a few times per day. Abscesses resemble a pimple-like swelling on the gums and typically cause discomfort, and they can carry the threat of serious oral and general health issues.
Post-Extraction Bleeding and Discomfort
Some discomfort following a tooth extraction is expected, but if it goes on an hour after the procedure, call our office. To keep yourself relatively comfortable, place a gauze pad over the extraction site and apply pressure by biting down on it.
Signs and Symptoms
Watch for signs in your mouth, such as bleeding, sensitivity, pain, discoloration, a sore, lump, or anything abnormal, as they can be early signs of an oral disease. Inform us when this occurs so we can examine the area for any treatment that may be needed.