What is Emergency Dentistry?
When you have a dental emergency, you must seek emergency dentistry in Bronxville to increase the chances of saving your teeth. Dental condition and your overall wellness are connected, and if you have an oral problem, you may end up affecting your health.
That is why it is crucial to get immediate treatment after an oral accident occurs. However, it is important to understand the difference between an urgent dental emergency and a non-urgent.
What is an Emergency Dentistry and How Does it Work?
A dental emergency is a bruising, injury of the gums, or loss of teeth that causes pain, swelling, and bleeding. Without proper and immediate treatment, a dental emergency can lead to complications that can affect both your oral and overall wellness.
Emergency dentistry is provided in different ways, depending on the situation. It can be performed using general anesthesia, sedation, nitrous oxide, or local anesthesia. Patients are usually given a shot before the procedure, and then they are put under general anesthesia.
The benefits of emergency dentistry are that it saves time and money while also preserving your oral health.
What is Considered a Dental Emergency?
We have urgent and non-urgent dental emergencies, and it is crucial to know the difference before getting a dental emergency near your treatment. The urgent dental emergencies include:
- Bleeding gums
Gum bleeding can be a painful experience, but it is not always a sign of something serious. Sometimes, it is just caused by the gum being overstretched and hitting the teeth. However, when you have persistent gum bleeding, it could be a sign of gum infection or tooth fracture. If you have gum bleeding and swelling, you should call your dentist immediately.
- Knocked-out teeth
Knocked-out teeth dental emergency can happen in several situations. One of the most common causes is when someone falls on their face or teeth and hits the ground. Your teeth can get dislodged can happen when someone plays sports or does any physical activity involving head or mouth movement, such as boxing and rugby.
Knocked-out teeth are a dental emergency and an injury that needs medical attention to fix the problem before it becomes worse.
- Abscess
A tooth abscess is characterized by a pocket of pus in the tissues or bone that bacteria have infected. Dental abscesses are typically caused by an infection from bacteria in the mouth and can lead to tooth loss if not treated. Furthermore, the bacteria can spread to the bloodstream and cause widespread inflammation.
- Swollen jaw
The swelling on the jaw is caused by infection, injury, or inflammation. A swollen jaw is a symptom of conditions like sinusitis, tonsillitis, or eustachian tube dysfunction. Swollen jaw symptoms include pain in the ear, fever, and a sore throat. Seek immediate treatment to ease the swelling and enable you to swallow food with ease.
- Toothache
The cause of toothache is dental abscesses, tooth decay, periodontal disease, and gum disease. Certain foods or drinks like acidic fruits or drinks with caffeine can affect the teeth too. The tooth pain can be mild or severe, depending on the cause of the ache. The most common treatments for toothache are painkillers and antibiotics to kill the bacteria in the mouth.
What Can You Do When a Dental Emergency Occurs?
When you have a dental emergency, you mustn’t panic and try not to make unnecessary movements. You will want your teeth and mouth as stable as possible to don’t cause further damage.
- Apply pressure to the tooth using a gauze pad to stop bleeding
- Rinse the mouth to get rid of debris and dirt
- Do not pull the teeth if they are partially dislodged; rather, try to push them back to the socket using the crown
- Avoid taking pain medication unless advised by the dentist
- Use an ice pack to reduce swelling and discomfort
Finally, visit the Bronxville Dentistry immediately, at least 30 to 60 minutes after the dental accident. The dentist will be able to preserve the teeth and dental structure and prevent complications.