How to Know If You Require Emergency Dental Care

We've all had emergency dental problems at one point or another (like teeth falling out). When you feel like your emergency is not an emergency anymore, you need to call up a dentist and set up an appointment. Here are some ways to know if your emergency is over,

Ø  If the tooth was knocked out, gently put it back in its place by rinsing it with water or mouthwash. You can use tweezers for this task but make sure they are clean. Put the tooth in a container of milk if it's available. Go to your regular dentist as soon as possible because there could be damage that wasn't visible before.

Ø  If something has fallen into the space left by a missing tooth, take a lost tooth, gently pick the object out with clean tweezers.

Ø  If you feel pain in your emergency teeth, it's probably not an emergency anymore unless there is also swelling of gums or lips, bleeding, or interference with breathing.

Ø  If the emergency has passed but you are still experiencing an uncomfortable sensation, go to a dentist anyway because irreversible damage could have been done.

Ø  When your emergency dental problem involves something more complex than toothache (like cracked dentures) you need to call up your dentist near me for help as soon as possible.

Ø  If your emergency involves excessive swelling, check if it can be relieved by laying down and raising your head higher than your feet or by taking aspirin or ibuprofen. If the swelling does not subside, you should call up a dentist or emergency room because it might be an infection.

Ø  To relieve pain, apply ice packs to your cheeks near the painful tooth, take painkillers as prescribed by your emergency dental care specialist, if possible rinse with warm salt water, or brush your teeth with saline solution.

Ø  When emergency dental problems are caused by other people, don't file a claim without first discussing this with an emergency dental care specialist.

Ø  If there's bleeding, put cold water on a cloth and press onto the area causing the bleeding until it stops (for about 10 minutes). Another way is to tie something around your head over the wound to stop the bleeding. This emergency procedure should only be done if there is a chance of a serious injury because if you have a big cut from the emergency, it might need stitches to properly close.

Ø  If your emergency involves swallowing or choking on something, drink water and let someone know immediately. The best way to deal with this emergency is to call an emergency dentist.

Ø  When your emergency dental problems involve swelling that doesn't go away after putting cold water on it, seek emergency dental treatment as soon as possible!

Ø  Remember that even though problems involving your emergency teeth might seem like emergency situations, you should still call up our Caringbah dentist and make an appointment.

Ø  If your emergency involves fever, you should go to the emergency room or call an emergency dental care specialist.

Ø  Usually when you can't open your mouth properly because of severe pain, it is not an emergency anymore; but in case of severe swelling (or severe pain), go to a hospital or emergency dentist!

Ø  If the problem is that you feel like there's something stuck between your teeth, rinse with warm salt water and use a tongue depressor if available. Don't forget to floss before going to sleep! Make sure you see your DDS as soon as possible because there might be permanent damage already done to your teeth or gums.

Ø  If an emergency tooth problem is because you feel like something is stuck in the emergency teeth, try to take it out by carefully using a piece of dental floss or other small objects (like tweezers). Don't move the emergency tooth if possible and make sure to see your emergency dentist as soon as possible to avoid permanent damage!

Ø  If your emergency teeth are loose and need emergency reattachment, go straight to your emergency dentist's office! Make sure you don't put pressure on them because that can result in having even more teeth come out and do not rinse with warm salt water either until you get seen! There might be serious dental problems done already so don't procrastinate any emergency dental care you need to receive!

Ø  If emergency tooth problems involve broken emergency teeth, try to put the emergency tooth in milk and go straight to the dentist in Caringbah as soon as possible. Make sure you don't scrub or touch it and try not to rinse with salt water until the emergency dentist sees it because there might be permanent damage already done! Sometimes emergency dentists can reattach emergency teeth but sometimes they cannot – if this is an emergency, don't wait any longer!

Ø  When your emergency teeth are loose/falling out/broken, do not pull on them yourself (or let other people pull on them)! This will cause further damage and could end up hurting your normal teeth too. Don't brush or rinse with salt water until emergency dentists see you and make sure emergency dentists knows about emergency teeth problems! Do not use hot or cold items on emergency teeth either!

Ø  If emergency tooth pain is because of new crowns, go straight to an emergency dentist office! Try not to touch the area (or your normal teeth) and definitely do NOT rinse with salt water until emergency dentists examine it! Remember that dentist visits are always free – don't wait any longer if you need emergency dental care!

Ø  Sometimes emergency teeth can fall out by accident – this does NOT mean that there's a big problem and it probably just means that the emergency dentist should check up on your regular teeth as well. However, if emergency teeth are out in the emergency for an extended period of time, they can sometimes cause infections.