A dental emergency is a situation involving the teeth or gums that requires immediate attention from a dental professional. These emergencies can range from severe toothaches to traumatic injuries, and they often involve intense pain, bleeding, or infection, which necessitate prompt treatment to prevent further complications.
One common type of dental emergency is a toothache, particularly when the pain is severe and unrelenting. This can be caused by a variety of issues, such as dental decay, an abscess, or a fractured tooth. In some cases, the pain might be accompanied by swelling or fever, indicating an infection that needs urgent care to prevent it from spreading.
Another urgent situation is when a tooth is knocked out or loosened due to trauma. If a tooth is completely knocked out, it is crucial to seek immediate dental care as the chances of saving the tooth decrease significantly with time. The tooth should be kept moist, ideally in milk or a tooth preservation product, until a dentist can reinsert it.
Broken or cracked teeth also constitute dental emergencies, especially if the fracture exposes the inner layers of the tooth, leading to severe pain or sensitivity. Similarly, injuries to the soft tissues of the mouth, such as cuts or lacerations to the gums, tongue, or cheeks, can require emergency treatment to control bleeding and prevent infection.
Infections and abscesses in the mouth are serious dental emergencies due to the risk of the infection spreading to other parts of the body. Symptoms of an abscess include intense pain, swelling, fever, and a bad taste in the mouth due to pus. Immediate treatment is necessary to drain the abscess and eliminate the infection.
Lastly, sudden and severe jaw pain or discomfort can also be considered a dental emergency, as it might indicate issues such as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders or other conditions affecting the jaw. Prompt evaluation and treatment are essential to address the underlying cause and alleviate the pain.
In conclusion, dental emergencies encompass a range of urgent dental issues that require immediate professional attention to alleviate pain, control bleeding, prevent infection, and save teeth or oral tissues from further damage.
DDr. Konstantine Malafis is used to dealing with all types of dental emergencies. If you have swelling or jaw pain, have a knocked out or chipped tooth or have a root canal treatment that has become infected again then call us on 718-725-7270 - We look forward to treating you as a patient and we will soon have you on the road to recovery. HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE A DENTAL EMERGENCY? Yes we have a lot of experience treating dental emergencies. Whether you or a family member is experiencing pain, or has suffered trauma, get in touch without delay. We are here to advise you in any scenario. Reasons for requiring emergency dentistry range from a straightforward cracked tooth or lost crown, to sudden onset toothache. In some cases patients have delayed seeing their dentist and find themselves in need, out-of-hours. Other times unexpected circumstances arising from a fall or accident.How do you know if you have one ? If you have one of the conditions listed below then you have a dental emergency.
Knocked Out Tooth
Cracked Tooth
Temporary Dental Crown Comes Off
Painful or Infected Tooth
Broken Jaw or
Jaw Pain.
If you’re unsure if your child requires emergency medical treatment for their injuries, best to call 911. Rinse your child’s mouth carefully, with lukewarm water, taking care to have them spit out any debris from the broken tooth. Put the tooth in milk to keep it moist. Call our emergency helpline. We can advise you whether emergency treatment and replacement of the tooth is an option, or if you should let your child rest and come to the office on a different day. Losing a tooth is upsetting for a child – as well as the parent, which is why we’re hear to take the fear away for both of you. We can help you settle your child and soothe their discomfort.
We understand the distress losing or breaking a tooth can cause, and the dread this can create in the lead up to an important event, where activities such as smiling and eating may be required. It’s never a good time to have a dental emergency, and that’s why we have cosmetic dentists, pediatric dentists and dental practitioners on standby 24/7 for all unexpected dental emergencies. Whether your tooth is chipped or broken, we can put you back together.
If you are experiencing toothache that feels like it won’t wait until morning, it may be that you require emergency root canal. As daunting as this may sound, be assured that our team are highly trained and prepared to ease your fears. This is hopefully just a once-in-a-lifetime event for you, but we’re used to it.
We do not offer out of hours treatment times but we are open 4 days a week. If you have a dental emergency, taking the right steps promptly can help alleviate pain, prevent further damage, and improve outcomes.
If you are injured and unsure of the extent of your injuries, it’s always best to call 911 or go to the emergency room immediately. What appears to be just a broken tooth may have an underlying issue, not visible to you. If you sustained impact – especially where it caused a tooth to be knocked out – you should seek medical advice right away to check for a possible concussion or fracture. If this sounds like you, you should seek help without delay.
As if tooth problems at inopportune times aren’t bad enough, finding yourself in need of emergency dentistry when you’re without insurance is an added face ache. Call us. We can advise you by phone, and work out a payment plan that works for you. Often dental treatment is required, through neglect, because the patient did not have dental insurance in place. This is a good time to address your dental emergency, and ensure your have confidence in the strength of your teeth going forward.
