Did you know that on average, 1 in 6 Americans experience dental emergencies every year? These dental accidents are more common than you’d think. 72% of Americans have fillings, caps, or crowns and about 23% of dental emergencies end up relating back to their dental restorations. Your emergency dentist in Wharton wants you to know what to do when you’re faced with a common dental emergency. Thankfully, statistics show that 67% visited their dentist after their dental emergency occurred. But, there’s always room for improvement. We want all patients to be well informed and able to make the best decision for their oral health.
What are the most common dental emergencies?
Recognizing a dental emergency can mean the difference between losing and saving your natural teeth. Our office can help you address any of these dental emergencies:
- Jaw injuries
- Lost dental restorations
- Objects stuck between your teeth
- Cracked teeth
- Broken teeth
- Dislodged teeth
- Severe toothaches
- Soft tissue injuries
What’s the most important thing to remember during a dental emergency?
First and foremost, you MUST STAY CALM. Panicking will only make an unpleasant situation worse. If you or one of family members experience a dental emergency, don’t hesitate to go to your nearest emergency room if the injury calls for it.
For example, if you there is a foreign object lodged in your mouth, causing excessive bleeding and a few fractured teeth, we strongly advise that you visit your nearest medical professional. Give our office a call after all priority health concerns are cared for.
Dr. Tripulas and our office team will do everything in our power to schedule an emergency appointment the same day as your accident. Dental Emergency? Remember two things: keep calm and contact Dr. Tripulas. The sooner you give us a call, the sooner we can begin restoring your beautiful smile.
How do I handle a common dental emergency before I make it to your office?
Knowing how to handle a dental emergency in a timely, effective manner can help you save your natural teeth.
Chipped or Broken Teeth
- Save any remaining pieces.
- Rinse your mouth and the pieces using warm water.
- If there’s bleeding, apply pressure until the bleeding stops along with a cold compress in 10-minute intervals to keep any swelling down and relieve pain.
Lost Dental Restorations
There are various products available in the dental aisle of your local pharmacy that can help you.
- Dent Temp—Place the mixture in the tooth’s voided area and pat it with water to harden the material. Bite into it while it’s soft to impress the shape of your tooth.
- Toothache gum—soften the gum in your mouth and place it where the missing restoration was. If you can’t use toothache gum, a piece of sugar-free gum will do the trick.
- Coat your tooth with Sensodyne or another fluoridated toothpaste and cover the area with sugar-free gum.
A Severe Toothache
- Rinse your mouth with warm salt water.
- Use dental floss to floss around the aching tooth, try to remove any lodged debris or food.
- Use a natural anti-inflammatory like clove oil or a hot chamomile tea bag to reduce swelling.
Visit Dr. Tripulas ASAP
Again, a critical part of managing a dental emergency is to remain calm until you can visit your Wharton dentist. If you are faced with any of the dental emergencies listed, don’t hesitate to call our office!