What are the Most Frequent Dental Emergencies?

Dental emergencies can happen anytime and anywhere. It is painful, traumatic, and requires immediate medical attention by a trained dental professional. Not every dental clinic offers emergency dentistry services. You should ensure that the nearest dentist in Chicago you consult offers emergency dentistry services. Emergency dentists will be available round the clock, including on weekends and holidays. There is also no need to make a prior appointment to visit a dentist in Chicago. Tooth decay, chipped tooth and a knocked-out tooth are some scenarios considered dental emergencies. The best way to prevent dental emergencies is to follow proper oral hygiene and take good dental care. In this article, we will discuss various types of dental emergencies and the steps that should be taken right away. With a quick response and first-aid treatment at the right time, one can prevent long-term damage to the teeth.

Common Dental Emergencies

Toothache

A toothache happens because of tooth decay, and it could be a sign of various other health conditions. Even though some toothaches can be managed without an emergency dentist's help, a toothache accompanied by swelling requires immediate medical attention. It would be best to stay away from taking any pain medications without consulting the Chicago dentist. You should apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek until you reach emergency dental care. The dentist will perform an oral examination and let you know what needs to be done, including the necessary treatment. The dentist in Chicago will also stress the importance of basic oral hygiene, which plays a crucial role in preventing cavities, tooth decay, and other dental problems.

Chipped Teeth

A tooth can get chipped off or broken when you try to bite some hard items. It not only impacts your smile, but it could also hurt. The first thing to do is to do proper rinsing of your mouth using warm water, and you should then apply a piece of gauze to the site where bleeding has taken place. Then, a cold compress needs to be applied to the face area that is closest to that of the chipped or broken tooth. It helps in significantly reducing swelling and in giving relief from the pain. The Chicago dentist will let you know about the need to avoid hard to chew foods and the importance of staying away from sports and other intense activities that could cause the teeth to break or chip.

Knocked-out Tooth

If the tooth is knocked out, you should pick it by its crown and not the root. The root consists of attached tissue fragments that will likely get damaged if you hold it. A dentist in Chicago can restore a knocked-out tooth if you reach the dental clinic within an hour. Place the knocked-out tooth in milk or salt water to help preserve the tooth.

Crowns and Fillings

Both crowns and fillings are used for tooth restoration. Therefore if any of the two breaks, you should get them treated immediately by a dentist to avoid further infection or damage.

Broken Orthodontics

Even though traditional braces are tough and designed to withstand wear and tear while chewing, eating, or even talking, they can still break, stick out and poke your cheeks and gums. Not only does it cause discomfort, but it also causes misalignment, which can impact the progress of aligning the teeth properly. It would be best to visit the nearest emergency dentist in Chicago as soon as possible since they know how to place the braces properly.

Bleeding and Pain after Tooth Extraction

It is normal to experience pain and bleeding after completing a tooth extraction procedure. However, if the pain and bleeding persist for long, say even after one hour, it is time to see the Chicago dentist again. In the meantime, you should place a thick gauze pad over the extraction site and apply pressure by biting down on the gauze. Until you see a dentist in Chicago, avoid rinsing the mouth, drinking, eating, spitting, and smoking.