How to Handle a Dental Emergency

Accidents can happen anytime, even to the most cautious, and can result in bodily injury, including a dental emergency. In cases like this, a good grip of the situation is necessary to have the emergency resolved right away.

Here are some tips on how to handle a dental emergency:

Apply safe first-aid measures.

First-aid measures can temporarily manage symptoms and control the situation before or during your trip to the professional. Clean any wound by rinsing with water. Take over-the-counter acetaminophen for pain, as opposed to aspirin or ibuprofen, which can make bleeding worse. If the medicine is not readily available, use an ice compress to help numb the area. Pressure can also be applied using a clean cloth.

Save what can be saved.

It is important to save a knocked-out tooth or dental prosthesis (e.g. a crown, broken denture, etc.) right away. A dentist may be able to safely re-implant the tooth, or at least, temporarily restore it, if the condition is preserved. Otherwise, a tooth replacement may be necessary. Knocked-out tooth should immediately and gently be rinsed in water while protecting the root, then placed in a cup of milk to keep it from deteriorating. 

 

Call an emergency dentist.

Proceeding to a hospital emergency room can mean more expensive treatments and possible unsatisfactory outcomes. Call a reliable emergency dentist who offers 24/7 services instead. With professional skills and appropriate diagnostic and treatment tools, the emergency dentist can provide immediate relief and treatment, at a more affordable cost.