What’s a Dental Emergency?
When you visit the emergency room at a hospital, it’s to receive immediate assistance for severe medical problems. The same is true about dental emergencies. If you have a dental problem that requires immediate assistance, it’s likely a dental emergency. We encourage our patients to give us a call if they experience severe pain, persistent bleeding, a damaged or knocked out tooth, or notice any signs of a dental infection. If you think you have a dental emergency, please contact us as soon as possible for assistance.
Dental Emergency and What to Do
To help our patients know if they have a dental emergency or not and to know what to do, we’ve compiled a list of the most common dental emergencies and how to address them.
Toothache
Sudden toothaches are usually a sign that something might be stuck between your teeth. Before you contact us for assistance, brush and floss your teeth and swish water around. If nothing comes out and your toothache continues to persist, there might be something bigger going on. If you develop a fever or your pain grows worse, please contact us to schedule an appointment.
Dislodged or Knocked-Out Tooth
When the right amount of force hits one of your teeth, it can dislodge or knock out the tooth. This type of dental emergency requires immediate assistance. If your tooth becomes dislodged, please contact us for help. Don’t try to fix your tooth yourself. If it’s knocked out, you will need to take a few steps first. First, apply pressure to the socket with a towel or gauze to stop the bleeding. Next, look for the knocked-out tooth. When you find it, carefully pick it up by the crown and rinse it off in water. Place the tooth in a cup of milk or saliva and then contact us for help. It’s crucial to see us as soon as possible so we can replace the tooth. The longer you wait, the more likely we can’t replace it.
Dental Abscess
Without treatment, a cavity can develop into an infection which can then lead to a dental abscess. A dental abscess is a puss-filled pocket located along the gum line or root of a tooth. It’s usually very tender, sensitive, and painful and accompanied by a fever. It’s important to contact us for treatment as soon as possible. If you wait too long, the abscess can rupture which will cause an immediate sense of pain relief. You will also taste a foul salty liquid in your mouth.
Cracked, Broken, or Chipped Tooth
Another dental emergency you might experience is any type of physical damage to your teeth including cracked, chipped, or broken teeth. While we highly recommend that you visit us as soon as possible for some point for these issues, we only recommend calling us for a dental emergency if the damage is severe or accompanied by persistent bleeding or intense pain.
Avoid A Dental Emergency with Preventive Care in Miami Beach
Although not all dental emergencies are preventable, some are. For instance, you can avoid toothaches and dental abscesses by visiting us for routine dental exams and cleanings. During these, we will address problems early on so they won’t develop into infections. Patients can also avoid damage to their teeth by wearing night guards while they sleep if they’re prone to grinding or clenching. Patients can also wear mouth guards when playing any type of physical sports.
If you do happen to encounter a dental emergency, don’t let the problem persist. Please contact our Miami Beach emergency dentists for help at (305) 535-2225.
