Emergency Dentist -- How to Handle Incidents Before Seeing a Professional

Most situations that require the help of an emergency dentist can be quite painful and sometimes very frightening. In some rare circumstances, they may even be life threatening. In any case, it is usually a bad idea to attempt self-diagnosis and care without seeing a professional. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to find a place you can go in such situations. Dental offices don't work like the ER in most cases and if you don't have someone you regularly go to, it can be difficult to know what to do. While you should seek out care as soon as possible, here are some things you can do in the interim.

Toothache

The term "toothache" covers a broad spectrum. It is a symptom of a problem, rather than a problem in and of itself. Of course, don't tell that to anyone suffering from one. Women who have been through both have often described a really intense toothache as being worse than childbirth in terms of pain. You'll want to seek out an emergency dentist if the pain is intense, but until you can do so, try taking over the counter pain medication to dull the intensity. Tylenol and Advil both work well to control the discomfort.

Broken Teeth

If you've suffered a broken or chipped tooth in an accident, try to hold on to as many of the pieces as possible. Rinse off the pieces as well as your mouth. Hold a rag or gauze against the area if there is bleeding. Contact an emergency dentist as soon as you can and get the kind of professional care you require.

Missing Tooth

Sometimes an injury does more than simply break a tooth; it knocks it out entirely. This is a serious issue and you should seek out an emergency dentist immediately. Find your tooth and rinse it off. Hold it by the enamel and place it back into place if possible. Don't try to force it. If you can't get it to go back in, put it in a small amount of milk and get to the dental office. If you can get professional care in under an hour, you stand a good chance of being able to save the tooth. The more time elapses, the more distant your chances will become.

At some point in your life, the need for an emergency dentist may arise. Because you won't get the kind of care you require by going to the hospital, it makes sense to choose a regular dentist that keeps emergency hours. That way you'll always know who to call when something like this happens.