Why You Should Deal With a Dental Emergency Quickly

Dental emergency situations in Canada are not uncommon. Injuries from physical activity and accidents can result in tooth damage that requires urgent attention. It can be nerve wrecking, but rest assured that an emergency dentist is within reach to get you the treatment you need.

That being said, not all dental concerns constitute an emergency. There are times when waiting for a convenient time to visit a dentist is entirely possible. In any case, it helps to know exactly when a situation can be escalated to emergency status.

So when exactly should you call the dentist for an emergency? Or to put it another way, what counts as a dental emergency? This article lays out the kinds of situations that you should watch out for. It also provides you with the immediate action that you can take to immediately treat it. The goal is to help you quickly determine and seek help for any emergency dental situation.

What is a Dental Emergency?

Simply put, a dental emergency is the need to seek immediate dental care for severe cases of pain or damage done to your teeth. It can be from the onset of a sports activity like bumping into someone during a hockey game or simply biting too hard on an apple. Whatever caused the damage, it needs to be treated immediately to prevent further damage and complications.

Here are the common determinants of an emergency dental situation:

- Bleeding in your mouth (e.g. gum lacerations) - Severe pain or sensitivity in teeth or gums - Intense facial or dental injury due to physical trauma - Swelling in the mouth or on the area of pain - Bulges, swelling or knots in your gums

To help you differentiate emergencies from what may just need a scheduled appointment, you can consider the severity of the pain in the teeth or gums. For instance, if your teeth are severely hurting even if you have used over-the-counter painkillers, this means you really need to get treatment right away. The root cause of the pain will make it clear that you can’t wait for a scheduled appointment.

Another thing you don’t want to risk is your damaged teeth leading to severe infection. Getting immediate treatment prevents this from happening. Make that call to the emergency dentist to avoid spending more money and time on treatment

How Should I Deal with a Dental Emergency?

Now that you have some idea of what constitutes an emergency dental situation, it’s time to learn about first aid or the things that you need to do during such an occasion. The key here is methodical response and adhering to the proper guidelines even before treatment. These help the patient to prepare for intensive dental care. Here is a list of steps to take:

1) Alleviate the pain: Always remember that severe pain in the teeth or gums can be alleviated with a cold compress. Additionally, over-the-counter medications can also work if not taken already. If all else fails, just wait for the advice of your emergency dentist.

2) Avoid further damage in the painful or damaged area: The worst thing you can do is to eat something that will only worsen the pain. Most of all, you don’t want to continue playing rough or jumping around as if nothing happened. This will only intensify the pain or lead to infection. Take it easy first and don’t eat or drink first until your dentist says so.

3) Relay relevant information to the emergency dentist: When you reach the clinic, tell the dentist exactly what happened to cause the injury or pain. Have your companion relay all the relevant information. This way, your dentist can quickly respond and alleviate the pain or treat the damaged area to prevent further infection.

Conclusion

Dental emergencies are stressful, but you can be well-prepared if you know how to deal with them. Follow this guide and respond quickly. When in doubt, don’t prolong the agony and seek professional dental care right away!

Are you in a dental emergency in Toronto? We have emergency dentists available all over Canada to provide you with immediate assistance. Call us now to book your appointment.