The Best Way to Handle 3 Dental Emergencies

Here are 3 of the most common dental emergencies and what needs to happen in terms of treatment. 

1. Unrelenting Toothaches

You may experience a toothache for a number of reasons. However, the most common reason for a toothache is decay. The bacteria that live inside your mouth love to eat any sugar particles left behind on your teeth and gums. If left unchecked, this bacteria can harden into tartar and increase your risk of cavities, gum disease, and other oral health issues.

Our dentists will need to clear out the decay or debris located inside your tooth before placing a tooth-colored filling to restore its strength and appearance. This is a straightforward procedure and we’ll make sure to administer local anesthetic so you don’t experience any pain. Our dentists also offer sedation dentistry if you need extra help relaxing during your appointment.

You may also experience a toothache if you have undiagnosed bruxism. Bruxism is a condition that causes you to grind and clench your teeth at night, often without your knowledge. Please let our team know if you’re also experiencing jaw pain, ear pain, headaches, or any other symptoms of bruxism.

2. Severely Cracked or Chipped Teeth

Does your tooth have a large chip or crack? If so, it’s time to schedule a visit with one of our dentists. The sooner we’re able to repair your tooth, the less likely bacteria will be able to reach the dental pulp inside. Once the innermost chamber of your tooth is infected, you may need an emergency root canal to avoid extraction.

If your tooth isn’t infected yet, our emergency dentists may recommend a dental crown. A dental crown is like a cap that fits over your tooth, restoring its full strength, health, and appearance.

3. A Knocked-Out Tooth

You may lose a tooth if you get hit in the mouth. That’s why we always recommend that athletes who play contact sports wear a custom mouth guard to protect their teeth.

For a knocked-out tooth, it’s important that you contact our Cadillac, MI, dental office right away. In general, we have the best chance of reimplanting your tooth if we see you within 30 minutes of the accident.

Follow these instructions for a knocked-out tooth:

1. Pick up the tooth by the crown, NOT the root. Otherwise, you risk damaging the cells needed for reimplantation.
2. If the tooth is covered in dirt, gently rinse it off with running water. Do NOT dry the tooth, scrub the tooth, or use soap.
3. If possible, place the tooth back in its socket and bite down gently to hold it in place. Otherwise, you may hold the tooth inside your cheek or submerge it in a container of milk to keep it moist.
4. Seek urgent dental care and call our office to let us know you’re coming.

The sooner you seek urgent dental care, the less likely you’ll need to replace the tooth with an implant, bridge, or partial denture.

Call Our Office Early for Help

Getting in touch with our emergency dentists in Cadillac, MI, and staff earlier in the morning helps ensure we’re able to see you the same day. If your emergency happens later in the day, we’ll do our best to treat your situation as soon as possible. Call LifeSmiles Dentistry today at (231) 775-8281 or request an appointment online for less pressing issues.