What is Emergency Dental Care?

Our smile is a big part of our personality and identity. When an accidental oral injury happens, it is important to act quickly to maintain this signature smile. The first step is to determine if the injury is severe enough to require emergency dentist chapel hill north carolina. It is not surprising that many people think that because it is an emergency, they should go to the hospital emergency room (ER). But in reality, an unnecessary trip to the ER may end in serious delay to getting the dental care needed. BEFORE rushing to the emergency room, start with a quick call to your dentist’s office to determine if the injury needs to be treated immediately. Below is more information about emergency dental care and how to determine if you need emergency services.

Is my oral injury an emergency?

To determine if your injury is a dental emergency you need to consider the severity of the injury, which tooth is injured, and the pain and bleeding involved. The following dental injuries or conditions should be treated immediately:

• Severe injury to your teeth or gums, including losing adult teeth
• A serious infection or abscess in your mouth causing pain and soreness
• Heavy bleeding following a recent dental visit or procedure
• A laceration to the mouth, face or gum, that needs treatment
• Chipped or fractured teeth that are a result of an accident

Minor oral accidents are pretty common, such as cracked or chipped teeth. Something as simple as eating hard food may result in a chipped tooth. These minor accidents that don’t result in a lot of pain or bleeding can wait to be treated until normal dental office hours. Many times, dentists will do their best to fit you in within 48 hours of the accident.

What are the most common dental emergencies?

The number one need for emergency dental services are lost, broken, or cracked teeth.

• Loss, broken, or cracked teeth: At some point in their life, many individuals have a fall or a sports-related injury that has led to the loss of teeth, a broken tooth, or a cracked tooth. In some cases, this kind of accident requires emergency services, and in some it does not. This really depends on how many teeth are damaged, where the tooth is located, and how severe the injury is. The best way to decide is to ask for professional help and call your dentist’s office and see if there is an emergency number to call. A quick call to your dentist can alleviate your worry and help you find appropriate emergency dental services.
• Preserving a knocked-out tooth: If a tooth has been knocked out, it is important to act immediately to take care of the tooth. It may be possible to put the tooth back into the socket in your gums. If you are able, this can save your tooth. If you can stick it back in, try biting down on a moist paper towel to help keep it in place. If the tooth will not go back in the socket, clean it off and place it in a small container of milk. Do your best to handle the tooth as little as possible.

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