Can Visits to an Emergency Dentist Be Ignored?
Oral diseases and injuries to your teeth and gums and any other dental emergencies are something you should not be ignoring. These conditions are potentially harmful and may require emergency dental care from a qualified dentist. You would be increasing your risks of having permanent damage in your mouth if you ignore an oral problem. It may result in extensive treatment being needed later on at a higher cost.
Dental emergencies can occur quickly leaving wandering what went wrong. You could be having fun involved in some sporting activity and suddenly could be holding a tooth that’s just being knocked out off your mouth. You will have a couple of options available to you. You can either visit the emergency room at a hospital or care for the injury yourself until you can visit the emergency dentist near you. If the emergency is not serious like a cracked tooth or a lost filling you can afford to wait until the office of the dentist opens. You just need to bear in mind that the problem needs to be repaired before more damage can occur calling for expensive dental treatment. Let us consider the situations where you need immediate treatment from an emergency dentist.
Loss of Permanent Teeth
The loss of permanent teeth is a serious condition that will require immediate treatment from emergency dental care. If you have found the lost tooth it is recommended that you rinse it in warm water by holding it by the Crown making sure you do not scrub the roots. Attempt to place it back between the cheek if you are unable to place it in its socket. You can also use a small cup of fresh milk to store the tooth and call your dentist right away. It is essential for you to reach the dentist within the next 30 minutes to have the tooth placed back in your mouth.
Bleeding From the Mouth
You could be suffering from a chronic condition if you are experiencing bleeding from the mouth. If you observe blood on your dental floss you could have developed gum disease or gingivitis. However, if the bleeding is present in your saliva it could be an indication of advanced gum disease or even cancer.
Bleeding from the mouth is not normal because the mouth is adept at preventing bleeding. You should seek immediate help if you have had a tooth extraction and the bleeding does not stop. You can contact your dentist for the treatment of gum disease if you observe spots of blood on your floss. Noticing blood on your toothbrush or floss cannot be considered as a routine and therefore needs prompt treatment.
Partially Excluded or Dislodged Tooth
Immediate treatment from a dentist will become essential if you have a partially dislodged or extruded tooth. You can find some relief from the pain and swelling by using a cold compress on your cheek until you get to the dentist’s office. You may also have an over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain relief.
Injuries to the Soft Tissue of Your Mouth
Dental injuries to not just involve the teeth and can also be in the form of injuries to the tongue, gums, and lips. An injury to the tongue should not cause panic in you unless you observe a large cut. The injury will appear worse than it really is but you are advised to remain calm because the tongue heals itself in the normal course. Similar will be the case with injuries to the gums or lips where medical attention will be sufficient rather than rushing to emergency dental care.
If you have an injury to your jaw you will need immediate dental attention especially if you are looking at a jawline that looks distorted. You will be required to keep your face as still as possible until you can get medical attention.
Dental distress can occur when you least expect them. You can certainly attempt some methods of controlling the pain or reducing the swelling. You should, however, forget about the idea of ignoring the injury because if left untreated it could bring upon you the need to undergo extensive treatment that will not only be painful and discomforting but will also cost you a significant sum of money. Therefore visits to the emergency dentist should never be ignored during a dental emergency.