Understanding Dental Emergencies

Understanding Dental Emergencies

Mar 10, 2023

What is a Dental Emergency?

A dental emergency is a dental problem that requires immediate attention. It can be an injury to the teeth or mouth, sudden tooth pain, pain when chewing or swallowing, or any other condition that needs prompt attention.

What are the Common Dental Emergencies?

It is crucial to visit an emergency dentist near you if you notice the following:

  • Chipped or broken teeth from injury

Injuries to the mouth can be a big problem for many people, as they can cause chipped or broken teeth.

When you have a chipped tooth, it means that one of the tooth’s surfaces has been damaged. This can happen when you eat something that is too hard, and it chips off a piece of the tooth. If the chip is large enough, it may need to be removed by a dentist. A broken tooth happens when there is damage to all tooth surfaces and usually requires root canal treatment.

  • Knocked-out Teeth

Knocked-out teeth are a common injury in sports and other physical activities.
The best way to preserve the tooth is to put it back in its socket as soon as possible. If this is not possible, try to place the tooth in milk or water and then take it to your dentist or go directly to the emergency dentist in Venice.

  • Lost fillings or crowns

Crowns and fillings are dental restorations that cover teeth damaged by decay or injury. Fillings are tooth-colored, while crowns are made of metal and porcelain.

In the event of a lost crown or filling, it is important to see a dentist as soon as possible. This is because you may experience tooth sensitivity and pain. Dr. Amy Valenti, DMD, will assess the damage and make an appropriate recommendation for treatment.

  • Toothache

A cavity, cracked tooth, abscess, or infection can cause a toothache. Symptoms include sensitivity to hot or cold foods, pain around your tooth that gets worse when you bite down on something hard, and swelling in or around your mouth. If you have any of these symptoms, however mild they may seem to be from time to time, then seek emergency dental treatment immediately.

  • Bleeding gums

Bleeding gums can be caused by several factors, the chief among them is gum disease.

To protect your teeth from the damage caused by gum disease, you should brush your teeth twice daily with fluoridated toothpaste and floss daily. Avoid smoking or chewing tobacco, which can make gingivitis worse by irritating your gums’ outer layers so that they bleed more easily when they’re exposed to bacteria in plaque on your teeth’s surface.

Your dentist in Venice, FL, may prescribe antibiotics or anesthesia for this condition until it heals naturally over time. However, if left untreated long enough—or if there’s extensive damage done due to poor oral hygiene habits—surgery may be necessary depending on the severity of the condition at its outset stage.

  • Abscess

An abscess can be caused by an infection in your body, which can be painful and cause fever, swelling, tenderness, and pain.
If you have these pimples on your gums or under your gum line, you might also have pain when biting down on food or drink. An abscess can be treated with antibiotics and other medications to eliminate the infection.

  • Bitten tongue or lip

The tissue can swell and become painful when you bite your tongue or lip. Furthermore, you can experience soft tissue bleeding, which can be a problem.

The first thing to do is rinse your mouth with water so the wound doesn’t get infected. You should also put ice on the injury for 10 minutes. If you can’t put ice on it, you should use a cold compress instead.

When to Seek Emergency Dental Treatment?

If you have lost a tooth, your dentist can determine if it’s possible to save the tooth and how long it will take. If not, they’ll need to extract the entire tooth.

If you have a severe toothache that won’t go away with pain medications, visit a dental office in Venice immediately. This could mean having an extraction done right away.

Schedule an Appointment

The primary way to avoid a dental emergency is to ensure good oral hygiene and visit your dentist regularly. However, if there is an issue, visit Tarpon Shore Dental – Venice for proper assessment and treatment.