Need an Emergency Dental Treatment? Don’t Delay at Any Cost

‘Emergency dental treatments’ is a term that can trigger feelings of fear and apprehension in people of all ages. The fact that the majority of people feel reluctant to enter the dental clinic or hospital is not unknown to anyone. Even if people don’t suffer from any serious dental issue, they still get scared by the thought of visiting a dentist. Such people come up with plenty of excuses for avoiding regular dental check-ups.

However, when it comes to emergency situations, i.e., situations wherein consulting the dentist cannot and should not be avoided, people forget their fear and reluctance. No one would want to live with a chipped tooth or misshapen teeth that can affect their overall appearance and personality.

But unfortunately, some people don’t approach the dentist even during emergencies, as they find it difficult to overcome the feeling of fear. While chipped or cracked teeth can be tolerated throughout life, bleeding gums cannot be made a lifetime friend. Within the first few minutes of such emergencies arising, patients start feeling pain, numbness, tingling, or discomfort.

Therefore, in these circumstances, patients should seek professional help and advice as soon as possible to get relief and avoid further complications. Suffering from pain in teeth or gums can lead to disastrous outcomes. Patients might have to not only lose the affected tooth or teeth but also develop certain diseases.

What Exactly is Considered to be a Dental Emergency?

The major reason why people don’t pay enough attention to dental emergencies or don’t consider visiting a dentist when they need immediate treatment is the lack of awareness regarding dental emergencies. Though it’s not easily believable, people don’t equip themselves with information about dental health. Most of the people perceive physical health and dental health differently. 

But it’s not the right approach as people should focus on enhancing their overall wellbeing and not just physical wellbeing. Just like maintaining physical health is important for staying in good shape and extending the lifespan, maintaining oral health is important for keeping teeth in good shape and extending their lifespan. 

The knowledge about factors, risks, diseases, and other points related to oral health can help people identify dental emergencies. Only when people become capable of identifying dental emergency situations, they can exhibit a sense of urgency in seeking appropriate remedies.

Following is the list of some dental emergencies:

• Tooth Abscess

It is a collection of pus at any particular region of the tooth that is caused by a bacterial infection. The reasons behind this infection can be a past injury or an untreated cavity. Swelling in face or cheek, bad breath, bad taste, toothache, fever, and tooth sensitivity are some of the symptoms of tooth abscess.

• Bleeding

Bleeding in a tooth, teeth, gums, or mouth is a severe emergency that should not be neglected at all. Gums bleed due to the plaque build-up. The germs in plaque affect the tissue of the tooth and lead to tooth decaying or gum disease. A little bleeding caused by brushing too vigorously should not be confused with bleeding that needs urgent treatment.

• Tooth Falling Off

Many times, accidents, sports injuries, and violent injuries result in broken or badly damaged teeth. If the tooth has entirely fallen off or has become extremely loose, the patient should see the dentist without wasting a minute. If the tooth has got chips or cracks, the patient can wait until the dentist becomes available.

The list of dental emergencies mentioned above is not extensive, and so, people might come across other situations as well that can be qualified as emergencies.

How to Stay Prepared for Dental Emergencies?

People can take certain steps to stay prepared for dental emergencies. The first and the foremost step is to research the dental clinics and hospitals available in their vicinity. People can make a list that includes name, address, and contact number of these places. 

So, whenever an emergency occurs, people can call or visit the nearest dental facility. The next step is to keep a little box along with some cotton aside at home and workplace. If a tooth of a patient falls, it can be covered with cotton and stored safely in the box until they reach the dental clinic. It should be ensured that the box and the cotton are clean.

Conclusion

When people encounter a dental emergency in their home, office, or any other place, they should rely on the experienced dentist for timely and quality treatment. Resorting to over-the-counter medicines for removing pain or discomfort should be avoided. Self-medication might provide temporary relief but can harm people in the long run.