Dental emergencies sound like something that might be self-explanatory; they’re just emergencies that happen with your teeth, right? That said, what constitutes a dental emergency, and what doesn’t?
When you look closer, it can actually be a little bit difficult to answer these questions, which is why trying to understand whether you should schedule an emergency appointment when you’re in pain is such a hassle. If you want to know a little bit more about dental emergencies, here’s a guide to what they are and what’s commonly done to treat them.
What is a Dental Emergency?
Essentially, a dental emergency is a problem with your teeth, gums, or mouth that warrants immediate attention. If you have one of these issues, your dentist will schedule you for an emergency appointment within the same day. These are problems that require that kind of attention.
Generally, these are conditions that are deeply uncomfortable. A severe toothache, a crack, or a lost restoration can all cause significant pain, and your dentist wants to help you ease that as quickly as possible.
Profound injury can also warrant immediate attention. If you’re bleeding, or if you’ve had a tooth fall out, that is also a reason to call a dentist as soon as possible.
Finally, if an important oral appliance is broken—like if there’s a crack in your dentures—that could be a reason why your dentist would want to see you quickly.
What Are Some Common Dental Emergency Treatments?
If you’re dealing with a dental emergency at the moment, here are some of the most common treatments your dentist is likely to recommend:
- Replacement: If you’ve lost a crown or filling, or even an actual tooth, the first thing your dentist will try is to put it back. With restorations, this can be as simple as using a little bit more dental cement to glue them back in place. Natural teeth can be replaced as well by simply putting them back into the same spot, which can allow your teeth’s roots to regrow.
- Fillings: Fillings are often the fastest and most effective way to deal with small chips or areas of decay.
- Root Canal: If you have a really painful toothache, it’s likely that you’re dealing with an infection deep within your tooth. Your dentist will numb your mouth completely, then go into the problem tooth and remove the infected tissue. Oftentimes, this treatment is the only way to save a dead or dying tooth.
- Extraction: If your tooth is already dead, or if there’s been irreparable damage, removing it could be the only course of action.
About Our Practice
At Lake Nona Dental Group, we want dentistry to be as easy as possible for our patients. We know that running between specialists can make dentistry complicated, so we have six experienced dentists on staff that can help you with whatever problem you may be having. We also work from two convenient locations, so you can get great dental care wherever you are.
If you have any questions about dental emergencies, we can be reached at our website. You can also call us at our Orlando, FL location at (407) 277-1779
