When you are in pain, the last thing that you want to do is wait. If your tooth has been knocked out or you have a deep cut in your mouth, then it is crucial to get medical attention as soon as possible.
An emergency dentist can provide immediate relief by pulling impacted teeth and fixing other dental emergencies. They also work with patients who have serious injuries like broken jaws or cheekbones caused by trauma.
What is Considered a Dental Emergency?
A dental emergency is defined as a dental problem that requires immediate treatment to prevent bleeding, alleviate excruciating pain, or preserve a tooth. Severe infections that might be fatal if not treated can also be considered an emergency.
If you have a dental issue that is not life-threatening, then schedule an appointment with your regular dentist as soon as possible.
If the problem requires immediate attention or if it might result in permanent damage to your teeth or gums, then visit an emergency dentist immediately for treatment.
What Does an Emergency Dentist Do?
The following are some of the things that an emergency dentist will do for you:
1. Repair dental injuries caused by trauma
One of the most common types of damage that an emergency dentist deals with is a broken jaw or cheekbone after an accident such as a car crash, bicycle mishap, fall from heights, etc.
Suppose you have any facial trauma like this. In that case, it’s vital to seek help right away because there can be systemic issues such as bone infections and injury to other internal organs if treatment is delayed for too long.
A comprehensive assessment will determine whether surgery on your face is needed, along with CT scans and x-rays, which they provide to diagnose fractures and assess how severe these conditions are before moving forward. They also place metal plates and screws into the jaw and cheekbones to stabilize the bones until they heal.
2. Provide pain relief
One of the most important things that an emergency dentist can do is provide immediate pain relief, so you don’t have to suffer while waiting for a follow-up appointment with your regular dentist or orthodontist.
They use local anesthesia to deaden the area and desensitize nerves to reduce discomfort during tooth extractions, root canal fillings, etc. There are also prescription medications they may prescribe if necessary, along with topical creams for wound management.
3. Treat dental abscesses
If there’s an infection in your mouth, it needs treatment immediately before it worsens into a dental abscess. This is a severe condition that requires antibiotics and drainage of the affected area to remove any harmful bacteria or pus accumulated, which can be done by an emergency dentist. They also prescribe medications for pain relief while the infection clears up, so you feel better during this process.
4. Treat gum disease
Gum diseases such as gingivitis or periodontitis are common in adults. They should be treated before they worsen into something more complicated like bone loss from receding gums, tooth mobility, etc.
An emergency dentist treats oral infections with scaling and root planing procedures and administering antibiotics orally if necessary, depending on what type of bacterial infection is present. If there’s not enough healthy tissue in the mouth to support natural teeth, they may recommend a dental implant or bridge.
5. Treat TMJ problems
People who suffer from chronic jaw pain and headaches could have an issue with their temporomandibular joint (TMJ), where your lower jawbone meets your skull in front of your ears.
There are many causes, such as grinding or clenching one’s teeth, arthritis, and injury. Still, these conditions can be diagnosed by an emergency dentist immediately.
Hence, you know what type of treatment is needed and prescription medications for relief while this condition heals over time. They also provide a bite guard that prevents further damage to the area while sleeping at night if TMD becomes severe enough to interfere with restful slumber throughout the night.
6. Relieve swollen gums
If you ever experience swollen gums, it’s essential to get treatment right away because there are also systemic issues that could be causing this condition, such as infection in the heart, lungs, kidneys, or liver.
An emergency dentist can assess your mouth and determine what type of bacterial infection is present, so they know how best to treat this problem with antibiotics along with pain medications if necessary for temporary relief while these conditions heal over time.
They may prescribe a saline rinse to reduce swelling by flushing out bacteria from the inflamed gum tissue.
7. Fix chipped, or broken tooth
A broken tooth requires immediate attention no matter where it’s located in your mouth. This is because part of the enamel structure has been lost, thus compromising its strength and increasing the risk of future fractures in other areas.
An emergency dentist will put a dental crown on top of your tooth to restore its original shape, strength, and function so you can eat and drink normally again without worrying about further damage or pain.
8. Treat decay under a recently filled surface
If there’s decay between two teeth where one was just crowned, you need to get that treated right away before it worsens into something more serious like jawbone deterioration from infected roots.
The sooner this condition gets diagnosed along with the appropriate treatment plan consisting of root canal therapy, oral antibiotics if necessary for systemic infections, plus a follow-up restoration process involving a dental crown, the better off you will be over time.
9. Perform a root canal procedure
If decay has been left untreated for far too long, then it could have reached your tooth’s pulp chamber, which contains blood vessels and nerves.
Therefore, this area must be removed along with the bacteria inside of it during a root canal procedure before more damage occurs to adjacent teeth within proximity due to infection spreading from an abscess.
An emergency dentist can perform one under local anesthesia as they clean out all diseased tissue, including parts that were just cut away until there’s no sign of any harmful bacteria or pus remaining in that specific area after treatment.
Once those roots are entirely cleaned out plus sealed with medication instead of being filled because they are hollow, the tooth will be restored by placing a dental crown on top of it to cover all tender areas.
Conclusion
An emergency dentist can provide you with much-needed relief for an assortment of oral health concerns, so if any appear, then don’t put it off because there’s no time to waste when something is wrong in your mouth.
Emergency dentists are always available 24 hours per day, even on holidays and weekends, to help with your immediate needs.
Therefore, don’t wait until the following business day to seek treatment if you’re experiencing intense pain, swelling, or bleeding. Get help right away because it could be a matter of life and death.