No one wants to experience a dental emergency, but in this type of situation, emergency dental services can save the day. It is important to know what qualifies as a dental emergency and what to do in an emergency situation.
What Do Emergency Dental Services Entail?
Anything from tooth pain to serious infections can qualify as a dental emergency. While no one expects to lose a tooth or suffer other trauma to their mouth or teeth, these types of situations occur often.
One such emergency situation is a tooth fracture or crack. As tooth fractures are one of the most common dental emergencies, many dentists offer emergency dental services for fractured or displaced teeth. This type of trauma often happens during intense physical activity, like playing basketball or falling when riding a bike. Individuals at risk for teeth fractures should wear mouth guards to reduce the damage from falls or collisions.
In addition to emergency situations resulting in fractured teeth, oral infections can also lead to emergency situations. A serious oral infection can cause swelling around the mouth or jawline. This swelling can lead to difficulty in swallowing or breathing. This type of infection needs emergency treatment as the bacteria can make its way from your mouth to your heart.
Treatment for a Fractured or Cracked Tooth
Emergency services are your best solution in situations like an infection or tooth fracture. In the event of a fractured or cracked tooth, consult a dentist as soon as possible. Treatment for a cracked tooth depends on the severity of the crack, its location, the symptoms, and how far the crack extends to the gum line. Popular treatment options include a dental crown, bonding, extraction, or a root canal.
If your dentist decides to treat your cracked tooth with bonding, they will use plastic resin to fill in the crack. Ceramic or porcelain crowns can cover the damaged tooth.
A root canal is another option for treating a cracked tooth. If your crack extends towards the pulp in your gum, a root canal may be in order. This procedure is helpful in preventing further infection. In the event that you have severe damage to your tooth, extraction may be the best option.
Treating an Oral Infection
Dentists usually diagnose a tooth abscess or oral infection with a CT scan or x-ray. Depending on your diagnosis, they may recommend treating the infection by draining it, performing a root canal, pulling the tooth, or using antibiotics.
To drain the abscess in your tooth, dentists will make a cut into it to get the pus out. Then, they wash the area with saltwater. In some situations, they may use a rubber drain to allow the area to stay open for drainage.
A root canal is another emergency dental treatment option that can help save your tooth from the infection. Your dentist will perform the root canal by drilling into the tooth, removing the diseased tissue, and draining the abscess. They then fill and seal the tooth. In some situations, the dentist may cap the tooth with a crown.
If a dentist decides that the damage to your tooth is too great, they will extract your tooth and drain out the abscess. Occasionally, dentists recommend antibiotics to treat infections. If your infection spreads to your jaw or nearby teeth, antibiotics can stop it from continuing to spread further. Additionally, antibiotics can be the best option for any clients that have weakened immune systems.
Preventing Dental Emergencies
Preventing a dental emergency starts with consistent dental maintenance. Care for your oral health with regular visits to the dentist and a regular routine of teeth brushing and flossing.
At Lovett Dental, our team provides dental services such as:
Make your oral health a priority to avoid a dangerous dental emergency. The professionals at Lovett Dental provide general and emergency treatment to promote positive oral health. Contact 409-924-8100 to learn more about our dental services in Beaumont, Texas.