If there’s one thing we can all agree upon, it’s that emergencies never happen when we are completely on the lookout for them. As a matter of fact, they tend to occur when we are least prepared. And that can easily cause a state of panic. But your emergency dentist in State College says that you should plan accordingly, so that in the event of a dental emergency, you’ll know what steps to take. Read on to learn what your options are.
What is Considered a Dental Emergency?
A dental emergency is a sudden and noticeable change to the healthy state of your mouth, teeth and gums. The first step to follow in any dental emergency is remain calm. Next, call your emergency dentist. The following classify as emergent situations:
- Tooth Knocked Loose – Sudden trauma to your mouth can knock a tooth loose. In the event that this happens, stabilize the tooth in its correct position until you can be seen.
- Tooth Knocked Out – If a tooth is completely knocked out, wash your hands and the tooth carefully, making sure only to handle it by the crown. Place the tooth back into its position until you can be seen by your dentist.
- Laceration to Mouth or Gums – If you have a substantial cut to any soft tissue area, make sure to keep your head elevated above your heart. Then, gargle with a salt-water solution to protect against infection. Also, if there is any swelling, apply ice to the outside of the face relative to where the laceration is.
- Chronic Toothache – A very painful toothache could be the sign of an abscess or some other serious condition. There may also be swelling. If so, then apply ice to the area where the pain is. Also, depending on your medical condition, you may consider taking either Tylenol or Advil to lessen the pain until you can be seen.
- Object Wedged in Teeth – If you can, remove the object, then gargle with a salt-water solution to lessen the chances of infection.
How Your Dentist Will Fix Your Dental Emergency
In a dental emergency, your dentist has several options to restore your mouth, teeth and gums, including root canals, tooth extraction, or repairing cracks or chips with fillings or bonding material. Ultimately, your treatment process will depend on the nature and severity of your situation.
Whatever happens, though, trust that your State College emergency dentist has options readily available to quickly correct whatever the issue may be.
About the Author
Donald M. Marks, DMD earned his BS in biology and DMD from the University of Pittsburgh. He has also received advanced training from the Institute for Advanced Dental Studies, Scottsdale Center for Dentistry, Dawson Center for Advanced Dental Studies and The American Academy of Dental Sleep. Dr. Marks practices at Marks and can be reached for more information through his website.
