No matter whether it’s tolerable or critical, the word ‘dental emergency’ can be life-threatening! Dental emergencies don’t come with a prior warning, which makes them intimidating. Such moments have us looking for an emergency dental clinic to investigate the situation in real-time. But how do you differentiate dental emergencies? Or, more importantly, what are the following immediate steps you should take during such incidents? Let’s find out as we learn more about emergency dentistry while equipping you with the proper knowledge to navigate such situations confidently. 

But What Is A Dental Emergency?

Any incident that harms the teeth, jaw, or gums is a dental emergency. It may be anything from a damaged tooth to a gum infection. Losing one or more teeth due to trauma is also a dental emergency.  You are experiencing a dental emergency if you are dealing with any of these circumstances:

• Severe toothache
• Injury during a dental procedure
• Dislodged tooth
• Bleeding from the mouth
• Chipped or broken tooth

Interestingly, however, that’s not all. Dental emergencies can be classified into common and immediate categories depending on their impact. Here’s a table dedicated to both categories of oral emergencies:

Common Dental Emergency	Immediate Medical Emergency
Cracked Tooth	Irreversible Pulpitis
Lost Or Broken Dental Restoration	Pulp Necrosis
Dental abscess (swelling of your jaw and face).	Periodontitis
Severe soft tissue injury (like a deep cut or a busted lip).	Apical and Periodontal Abscesses

Based on the situation, you can seek emergency dental treatments, which we discuss in the following sections. 

Immediate Steps To Take During A Dental Emergency

Most of us fail to recognize the necessary emergency dental procedures we should follow in cases of critical oral conditions. This is mostly because most of us have limited or zero experience tackling oral emergencies successfully.  Therefore, to help you better, we’ve categorized some immediate steps to take during a dental emergency. Let’s have a look at the different steps you need to follow. 

Step 1: Be Quick With Your Actions

When caught up in a dental emergency, you need to think quickly. You can’t risk querying Google for the steps of action. Instead, focus on reaching your emergency dentist in Rio Rancho within 30 minutes to ensure no life-threatening injury. 

Step 2: Locate The Sight Of Emergency

Before you head out from the location of the incident, try figuring out what happened to the patient. Try getting a clear look into the problem to inform your dentist when you reach them.  Or, you could also locate the tooth immediately (in case of dislocated tooth). Don’t leave it where the accident happened. Never touch the tooth’s root when handling it; remember only to touch the crown (chewing surface).

Step 3: Reach The Clinic Immediately

Once you’re ready to leave, ensure you waste no time rushing to your nearest dentist clinic. Call your dentist in Rio Rancho, NM, or call 911 to reach the clinic in no time.  While these were some quick steps you could take during an oral emergency, there are times when you can do some DIY before heading out to the clinic. We’ll have a closer look at such emergencies in the following section. 

DIY For Common Dental Emergencies Before Reaching Out To Your Dentist

Severe Toothache

A severe toothache may be painful and suggest an underlying dental condition. Before visiting any dentist in an emergency, do the following actions to manage the problem and reduce the pain:

1. Use warm saltwater to rinse your mouth to clean the afflicted region and minimize irritation.
2. Place an ice pack or cold compress against the outside of your cheek to numb the region and lessen swelling.
3. Aspirin and other painkillers should not be applied directly to the gums or teeth as this might result in burns.

Remember, you should never ignore a severe toothache since it can indicate an infection or other dental problems that need to be treated by a specialist.

Dislodged Tooth

Early intervention is essential to improve the tooth’s chances of survival after being entirely knocked out. Take these actions:

1. Locate the tooth, holding it by the crown (the top) and avoiding the root.
2. Use milk or saline solution to clean the teeth gently. Do not scrape the teeth with soap.
3. Make an effort to reposition the tooth in its socket, paying attention to which way it faces. Bite on a piece of clean gauze or cloth to keep it in place.
4. Make an appointment right away to speak with your dentist about the matter.

Remember, time is crucial when dealing with a dislodged tooth. Act quickly to increase the chances of successful re-implantation during emergency tooth surgery.

Bloody Mouth

Uncontrolled bleeding from the lips can be concerning. Thus, action needs to be taken right away to stop it. Follow these recommendations:

1. Sit or lie back with your head up to limit blood flow to the region.
2. If you notice any blood, gently rinse your mouth with cold water to find the cause of the bleeding.
3. To stop the bleeding, gently massage the area with a clean gauze pad or towel.
4. Contact your dentist immediately if bleeding is severe or persistent, or visit the nearest emergency facility.

Remember, it’s crucial to get expert assistance to identify the reason and obtain the proper emergency dental treatment for bleeding from the mouth, which can indicate several dental problems.

Conclusion

Emergencies can be uncalled for. So ensure you’re always prepared to navigate such instances by connecting with dental emergency services and staying updated with your dental insurance to avoid any fatal blow to your bank. All the best! 

Book Your Urgent Dental Appointment Today!

At Sundance Dental & Orthodontics, we’re equipped with the tools and experience to help you navigate any dental emergency. Located at the heart of Rio Rancho, we bring you the best services at the most accessible prices. Visit us today.