Common Dental Emergencies and How to Handle Them

You wake up in the middle of the night, your mouth is on fire, and your head feels like it's about to explode.

If you've ever experienced a toothache at 2 AM, you know how I feel.

You aren't the only one in this situation because 2 million Americans end up in emergency departments each year for dental conditions that could have been avoided or treated better.

That's more than 615 visits for every 100,000 people who need emergency care for a preventable or undertreated dental issue.

The problem is most people don't know what to do.

They panic, make bad decisions, and end up in an overpriced emergency room that can't even treat their dental problem.

Don't be that person!

Fortunately, with a little knowledge, you can learn how to respond to the most common dental emergencies. Plus, you'll know exactly when to call your dentist and when you can wait for an office visit. This article will show you everything you need to do when a dental emergency hits.

By the end of this article, you will know:

• The Cost and Challenges of Dental Emergencies
• Painful Toothache: When Your Body's Red Flag is Flashing
• Knocked-Out Teeth: The Race Against the Clock
• The Hidden Dangers of Dental Abscesses

The Cost and Challenges of Dental Emergencies

Here's something you might not know about dental emergencies…

They're super expensive when not treated correctly.

Emergency room visits for toothaches can cost $400 to $1,500, while a regular dentist visit averages $90 to $200.

The real kicker?

Emergency rooms aren't equipped to treat your dental problem. They're set up to provide temporary pain relief and antibiotics. You will still need to make a follow-up appointment with your dentist.

Here's a stat that might surprise you:

In the United States alone, about 200,000 Americans go to the emergency room each year because of dental abscesses.

These bacterial infections are the cause of 25% of all dental-related emergency visits.

If you need urgent professional care, you can seek emergency dental care in Boston to receive the immediate treatment you need that the emergency room cannot provide.

Painful Toothache: When Your Body's Red Flag is Flashing

When it comes to the causes of middle-of-the-night dental emergencies, one condition is responsible for more situations than anything else.

Severe toothache.

A toothache can be a dull constant ache or a sharp pain that comes and goes. Sometimes, eating hot and cold foods can trigger toothache. There are times when your entire body aches along with the toothache.

What to Do in the Case of a Severe Toothache:

• Rinse your mouth with warm salt water to reduce swelling and help clean the affected area. Mix half a teaspoon of salt into one cup of warm water. Swish the solution around the affected tooth for a few minutes before spitting it out.
• Over-the-counter pain medications. Follow the directions on the bottle. Ibuprofen works well because it reduces inflammation in addition to relieving pain. Don't place aspirin on your gums or teeth as it will burn your tissues.
• Apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek for 15-20 minutes at a time. This will help reduce swelling and numb the pain temporarily.
• Never ignore a toothache and hope it will go away. Severe toothache is often a sign of a significant infection that can spread to other parts of your body.

Knocked-Out Teeth: The Race Against the Clock

Here's a fact that will shock you.

Did you know that a knocked-out tooth is a dental emergency that you can often fix if you act fast and know what to do? You have between 30 minutes to one hour to get the tooth to a dentist.

Here's the necessary steps.

• Look for the missing tooth immediately.
• Hold the tooth by the crown (white part of the tooth) and not by the root.
• If the tooth is dirty, rinse it gently with milk or water. Do not scrub the tooth or pick off any tissue fragments.
• Try to put the tooth back in its socket if possible. Gently bite down on a clean cloth to hold the tooth in place. If you cannot put it back in the socket, put the tooth in a cup of milk or saliva to keep it moist.
• Get to a dentist as fast as possible. Time is of the essence when it comes to saving a knocked-out tooth.

The Hidden Dangers of Dental Abscesses

Hold on to your seats because…

Dental abscesses can be life-threatening if they are not treated right away. These infections can spread into your jaw, neck, and even brain in extreme cases.

Signs that you may have a dental abscess include:

• Severe, persistent toothache
• Swelling in your face or cheek
• Fever and general feeling of being unwell
• Bitter taste in your mouth
• Persistent bad breath that won't go away with brushing or mouthwash

Emergency Treatment:

• Rinse your mouth several times a day with salt water to draw out some of the infection. This can provide some relief and keep the area clean.
• Over-the-counter pain relievers. Follow the directions on the label. Ibuprofen is particularly helpful for reducing inflammation. Do not apply aspirin directly to your gums or teeth, as it can burn your tissues.
• Use a cold compress to reduce swelling on your face. Hot foods and drinks can make your pain and swelling worse.
• See a dentist or go to the emergency room right away if you have facial swelling, fever, or difficulty swallowing. This indicates the infection is spreading.

What to Do About Broken Crowns and Lost Fillings

Broken crown in the middle of dinner? No problem.

Just keep your cool and follow these tips:

• Pick up the crown if you can find it. Clean it off gently and try to place it back on the tooth with some dental cement or even toothpaste as a temporary measure. Avoid chewing on that side of your mouth.
• For a lost filling, gently clean the area and place a small amount of sugarless gum or temporary filling material on the exposed tooth. You can find temporary filling material at your local pharmacy. This will help protect the exposed surface of your tooth until you can see your dentist.

Dental Emergency Prevention Tips

The best kind of emergency is the one that never happens.

You can lower your risk of dental emergencies with a few smart prevention tips.

• Wear a mouthguard during sports and physical activities. Don't use your teeth as tools. Don't open packages, crack nuts, or cut things with your teeth. These are more common causes of dental emergencies than you might think.
• Brush, floss, and go to regular dental checkups. Most dental emergencies are caused by untreated decay or gum disease.
• Get dental problems treated early. That small cavity or minor toothache won't go away on its own. If you ignore it, it will only get worse and more costly to fix.

Emergency Treatment vs. Next-Day Dental Appointment

Not all dental problems require an immediate emergency visit.

Go to the emergency room for dental problems that cause:

• Uncontrolled bleeding that won't stop after 15 minutes
• Facial swelling that interferes with breathing or swallowing
• Trauma to your mouth due to an accident
• Signs of a serious infection like fever or neck swelling

Make a dentist appointment within 24 hours for:

• Severe tooth pain that wakes you up at night
• Knocked-out teeth or loose teeth
• Lost crowns or large fillings
• Dental abscesses without systemic symptoms

Wait for regular dental appointment if you have:

• Minor toothaches that respond to pain medication
• Small chips in your teeth that are not painful
• Minor sensitivity to hot or cold foods

Emergency Dentistry Takeaways: The Essentials

We hope this article has shown you that dental emergencies are not the end of the world. If you have a little knowledge and act quickly, you can manage most dental emergencies effectively and protect your oral health.

Remember these essentials:

• Time is of the essence. The quicker you act, the better the outcome for saving knocked-out teeth and avoiding the spread of infections.
• Know when to get immediate emergency treatment and when you can wait for a dentist appointment.
• Keep a well-stocked dental emergency kit in your home at all times.
• Practice prevention by maintaining excellent oral hygiene and going to regular dental checkups.

The most crucial thing?

Don't ignore dental issues and hope they will go away on their own. Little problems turn into dental emergencies when they are not treated early.

Take action today to protect your smile. Book regular dental checkups, brush and floss regularly, and be prepared for emergencies before they occur. Your teeth and your wallet will thank you later.