5 Common Dental Emergencies and How to Handle Them

Dental emergencies can be distressing; we all agree on that. They are completely unexpected and tend to occur when we least need them – right before that holiday abroad or your brother-in-law’s wedding. These situations are simply an inevitable consequence of a hectic lifestyle.

We can’t prevent dental emergencies, but at least we can be ready for them. The first – and most important- step will always be to get in contact with your dentist. However, we’d still like to pass on some advice on what to do if you face any of these situations:

Table of Contents

1. Toothaches
2. Dental fractures
3. Loose or lost teeth
4. Abscesses
5. Lost crown or filling

1. Toothaches

At Oasis Dental Studio, we know that toothaches can be excruciating. In most cases, there’s no time to wait – patients need to have their pain relieved straight away. There are many reasons why they might experience this severe discomfort, including long-standing dental decay, clenching/grinding, dental trauma, and wisdom tooth problems. Our team will determine what’s causing the toothache and offer treatment options to ease this pain.

In the meantime

• Rinse your mouth with warm salty water. This helps remove bacteria and any food particles left that can provoke pain or worsen the infection.
• Sleep with an extra pillow. Raising your head helps lower blood pressure in the area, reducing inflammation (which triggers pain).
• Take over-the-counter painkillers if necessary.

2. Dental fractures

Dental fractures, cracks and chips are a common consequence of dental trauma. Their treatment varies according to the characteristics of each particular case. Some minor chips or fractures can be easily fixed with tooth colour fillings, while other more extensive fractures might need more comprehensive restorative treatments like veneers or crowns, and even root canal treatment.

In the meantime

• Try to save the missing pieces. They cannot be reinserted, but they could help the dentist reconstruct the tooth’s anatomy.
• Wash your mouth with warm saltwater.
• If bleeding, apply pressure with gauze.
• Apply a cold pack in intervals of 20 minutes if swelling is present.

3. Loose or Lost Teeth

We strongly advise patients with misplaced or completely knocked out teeth to visit the office immediately after the trauma. The sooner the teeth are repositioned in their socket, the better chances of successful re-implantation.

What to do

• Come to the office as soon as possible.
• In the case of a tooth being completely knocked out, bring the lost tooth with you to the clinic. Grab it from the crown, rinse it and store it in a container with milk, saline solution, or a strong balance medium like sports drinks (not water!). If you cannot find any of those liquids nearby, place the tooth inside the oral cavity, in the cheek area.

4. Abscesses

Dental abscesses are acute inflammatory processes usually originated by a bacterial infection. They look like a “pimple”, red and swollen, and they usually hurt. The treatment aims to drain the infection and eliminate its source, which can be achieved either with a root canal treatment or the extraction of the affected tooth. In some cases, antibiotics are also needed.

In the meantime

• Patients shouldn’t take measures in case of an abscess, as this can worsen the condition. The only suggestion is to apply a cold pack in the area to reduce swelling.

5. Lost Crown or Filling

Unfortunately, some dental restorations can come off due to debonding or underlying decay. Although this might not be a proper emergency, it can cause severe aesthetic alterations in your smile if we’re talking about front teeth. In addition, in case of lost dental crowns, it is not advisable to have the remaining tooth exposed to the oral cavity for a long time. So, we always recommend our patients contact the office – we will try to get you an appointment as soon as possible.

In the meantime

• Look for the missing restoration and bring it to the consultation.
• Don’t try to glue it back to the tooth!

It’s completely normal to get nervous in these situations, but our patients need to know that at Oasis Dental Studio, we are always ready to help you. Please don’t hesitate to contact our office in case of a dental emergency, where our experienced dentists will be able to help you find the best solution.