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Types of Dental Emergencies

Types of Dental Emergencies and steps to handling them before going to the dentist.

What are Dental Emergencies?

Dental emergencies should not be taken lightly.  Although not all dental ‘troubles’ equate to an emergency trip to the dentist, it is still important that proper handling of such situation could mean the difference between saving a person’s tooth or losing a tooth.

A dental emergency is one that requires immediate medical attention, like a blow to the head resulting to a broken tooth or a fractured jaw.  Abscessed tooth that is accompanied with pain, fever, or swelling, is actually just as serious and it requires immediate treatment.

Types of Dental Emergencies

• Knocked-Out Tooth also known as avulsed tooth usually happens when the tooth falls out of the mouth.  It is a common accident, especially among children, sports related activities and even on the road.

Ninety percent of this tooth could have been saved and reinstated back if proper preservation technique has been used during the time of the accident.  Parents, caregivers or people present during the accident usually bring the knocked-out tooth to the dentist in the hope that it can be replanted.  However, generally if the initial necessary steps to keep the tooth viable for replantation is not taken, the chances of a successful replantation of the knocked-out tooth becomes minimal or at most zero.

Generally, the public understanding is that submerging the tooth in milk will preserve it.  The truth is that the main component of our tooth is enamel.  It is one of the hardest substances in our body.  However, once the tooth is out of a person’s mouth, it begins to die.  This happens in just 15 minutes.  Frequently, without proper storage, within two hours the tooth is dead.  For the tooth to be successfully replanted, the periodontal ligament has to be kept alive.  This periodontal ligament is a thin layer of cells surrounding the tooth.

Whatever medium is used, special attention has to be on the two primary causes of replanted tooth loss:

·         tooth cell crushing (especially during transportation from accident venue to the dentist)

·         tooth cell dehydration

• Fractured jaw – Are you having a broken jaw?  How do you know?  This dental emergency usually is accompanied with a pain and the inability to use the jaw.  The way your teeth bite together, will also feel different.  You need to immobilize the injured jaw and please do not move your mouth.  It is also advised that you tie a piece of cloth around your jaw.  Rush to your dentist or a hospital A & E immediately.  Do not delay.  The teeth may either be wired together to give the bones a chance to unite or the bones may be surgically put back in place.

• Abscess tooth is an infection in either the tooth or the gum.  Pain, swelling and discharge of pus are symptoms of an abscess tooth.  This type of infection will not heal on its own and ignoring it could eventually affect the neighboring teeth and a person’s health in general.

An abscessed tooth may be saved through root canal treatment or gum therapy.  As a last resort, it may be extracted.  For temporary pain relief, take panadol, aspirin, paracetamol.

• Chipped, loosened tooth or broken tooth.  Sometimes, this type of dental emergency does not come with pain.  However, it is still important to see a dentist as soon as possible.  Clean the injured area with warm water and use a cold compress to bring down the swelling.  Don’t throw away any pieces of the broken tooth.  Bring it and show it to your dentist.  Sometimes, fragments of the broken tooth can be bonded back into the injured tooth.

A loose tooth may be due to injury or it is a sign of gum disease.  The nerve in the injured tooth could be damage and could eventually die.  This will then cause the tooth to discolor.

·         Toothache should never be ignored or taken lightly even if the pain is bearable and happen only for a short period of time.  Toothache could mean there is cavity in the tooth or an abscess.

Do not crush an aspirin against the aching tooth because it may chemically burn the gums.  Take panadol, paracetamol or a pain reliever.  Please avoid extremely cold, hot or sweet foods and drinks.  It is advisable to rinse your mouth with warm water and use dental floss to remove food particles from the tooth.  However, this is just a temporary relief.  Always, always visit your dentist as soon as possible.

You can also download a copy of KEEP IT HANDY - Emergency Steps for Saving a Knocked-Out Tooth instruction leaflet from the web

Article Tags: Dental Emergency, Knocked-out Tooth

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