A dental emergency is a situation that must be immediately attended to by a dental professional. Dental emergencies typically happen because of an accident, injury, or poor oral health. A quality emergency dentist will be able to address all the following dental emergencies:
- A loose, broken, chipped, or knocked-out tooth
- Severe, lasting tooth pain
- Damage to the gums, tongue, lips, or cheeks
When to Contact Your Dentist
Some dental emergencies, if neglected, may become much more severe, requiring urgent care. In such an instance, contact your dentist before heading to the emergency room. Those that offer emergency dentist appointments can get you in on the same day. Afterhours emergencies, however, may require a trip to the emergency room. Dental emergencies that occur from a sports injury, such as an injured jaw or bleeding that won’t stop, most likely need immediate medical attention.
Make Note of Your Symptoms
Make sure to note all your symptoms, such as the severity and location of any pain, the presence of a fever, any cracks or chips, bleeding, or other unusual features. Next, contact your dentist’s office to schedule an appointment. Dental professionals typically set aside a certain amount of time each day for dental emergencies. Relaying your symptoms will be helpful in determining how soon your appointment needs to be scheduled according to the severity of your symptoms. A broken tooth, lost crown, or knocked-out tooth will usually require more immediate attention than a toothache with no visible damage.
What to Do before Your Appointment
Depending on your symptoms, you should perform different tasks while waiting for your appointment. For a knocked-out tooth, you’ll want to keep the tooth moist by placing it back in the socket or leveraging it between your gums and teeth. For damage to mouth tissue, mouth pain, and cracked teeth, you’ll want to rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area. A cold compress may help with pain and swelling.
How to Avoid a Dental Emergency
To avoid future dental emergencies, such as losing or cracking a tooth, it’s important to:
- Avoid eating ice, hard candy, popcorn kernels, or chewy foods.
- Always use a mouth guard to protect your teeth when playing sports.
- Visit your dentist every six months for a routine dental exam and cleaning.
- Never use your teeth to cut an object.
- Never ignore your symptoms or put off treatment. Poor oral health can lead to heart disease, oral cancer, and stroke.
If you need an emergency dentist appointment in San Antonio, TX, contact us immediately at (214) 613-1877 to schedule an appointment. We also offer same-day service for dental emergencies when available.
