You may be incapable of distinguishing between a dental problem and a more severe condition if you are not familiar with the common symptoms of a dental emergency.

A dental emergency can occur even when you have properly cared for your smile for years. The amount of time and money you use to maintain oral and dental health does not matter; sometimes, things could go wrong without one warning sign.

This blog helps you understand when you must contact your dental professional immediately. Hence, you save time waiting for dental care when you should call immediately for emergency dental treatment.

What Constitutes a Dental Emergency?

A dental emergency refers to any dental issue necessitating immediate care to alleviate severe pain, prevent infection, or stop bleeding. Dental emergencies require immediate care in most cases. Some gum or tooth injuries can become severe, resulting in further damage. It is critical to call your dental professional immediately or visit the ER for treatment if you have a dental-related emergency.

Even though dental emergencies are more prevalent, not every dental problem is an emergency. The critical aspect of a successful dental emergency treatment is knowing when to contact a dental professional or go to their office immediately.

Some issues can wait until your next routine appointment to undergo treatment, whereas others require urgent intervention for bleeding control or pain. For example, if you experience bleeding that will not cease, broken or fractured facial bones, or pain that does not disappear with medication, you need emergency dental treatment.

What Situation Is Deemed a Dental Emergency?

The following are dental problems deemed emergencies, meaning they would need immediate dental care:

  • Severe toothache
  • Knocked-out teeth
  • Dental abscess (jaw and gum swelling)
  • Extruded (partly dislodged) tooth
  • Severe injury to the soft tissue (such as a deep cut or busted lip)
  • Cracked or chipped tooth
  • Bleeding gums
  • Cut or bitten cheek, lip, or tongue
  • Broken or lost dental restoration

Here is how to handle each of the emergencies until you reach your dental professional’s office:

Broken or Lost Dental Restoration

At times, old dental restorations can become dislodged or fall off. If your filling is missing or broken, stick sugarless gum into the cavity (gum containing sugar will trigger pain). Alternatively, you can buy dental cement over the counter and use it. Visit your dental professional as fast as you can.

If your dental bridge or crown is broken, schedule a dental appointment immediately. Bring the broken restoration when you visit. If you can, return the restoration to its place. Before you do so, coat the inner surface using an over-the-counter (OVC) dental cement, denture adhesive, or toothpaste adhesive to assist in holding the restoration in place. Do not use super glue.

Dental Abscess

An abscess is a dental infection characterized by a pus-filled pocket forming inside the tooth, around a tooth root, or between the gums and teeth. This is undoubtedly a dental emergency since it is a severe condition that could damage surrounding teeth and tissue. If left untreated, the abscess may spread to the jaw, face, and surrounding tissues, causing swelling, consistent toothache, and a high fever. The infection could also spread to other body parts in more advanced cases.

If you have developed a tooth abscess, see your dental professional as quickly as possible. In the meantime, try to rinse the mouth using a mild saltwater solution (one-half teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of water several times a day) to draw the pus toward the surface and alleviate the pain.

Extruded Tooth

Visit your dentist immediately. Until you reach the dental office, place an ice pack on the outer part of your cheek or mouth in the impacted area to alleviate pain. Take over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen, naproxen, or acetaminophen if necessary.

Knocked-Out Teeth

If your tooth has been knocked out, retrieve it by holding it by its crown (the section visible above the gums) and rinse the root using water. Never scrub the root or take out the tissue fragments attached. Return the tooth to its socket if possible. Ensure it faces the correct direction. Avoid forcing the tooth into position.

If reinserting it is impossible, ensure it remains moist by putting it in a container with milk (you can use water containing salt if you do not have milk) or a solution containing a medium for cell growth, like Save-a-Tooth. Alternatively, you can place it between your cheeks and gums. In any case, see your dental professional immediately. They have higher odds of salvaging the tooth when placed back in its socket in an hour.

A Badly Cracked or Chipped Tooth

A non-hurting chipped tooth is often not deemed an emergency, although the chipping may become worse with chewing. Fractured or cracked teeth cause a severe dental problem. They generally show that internal and external damage has happened.

If you have a cracked, chipped, or fractured tooth, rinse and keep any broken piece of the tooth. Use warm water to rinse the mouth immediately. If bleeding, place a piece of gauze in that area for approximately ten minutes or until the bleeding stops. Put an ice pack on the outer part of your lip, cheek, or mouth near the chipped or broken tooth to alleviate pain and minimize swelling. See your dental professional as quickly as you can.

Severe Toothache

A severe toothache is not always a good indication. Many conditions, like tooth decay, may cause severe tooth pain. Some tooth pains can be addressed without emergency care, although severe dental aches and facial swelling necessitate immediate attention.

If you have a severe toothache, rinse the mouth thoroughly using warm water and gently remove any stuck food using dental floss. If the mouth is swollen, place an ice pack on the outer part of your cheek or mouth. Take over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen, naproxen, or acetaminophen. Do not place painkillers, like aspirin, against your tooth or gums because they might burn your gum tissue. Visit your dental professional as quickly as you can.

Cut or Bitten Lip, Cheek, or Tongue

First, remain calm if you cut or bite your lip, cheek, or tongue. Mouth tissues have several blood vessels, so even slight wounds might appear worse than they are. Wash the site gently, manage any bleeding by putting a towel or moist gauze at the injured site, and apply pressure until the bleeding stops. Afterward, place an ice pack on the site to lower any swelling.

Many mouth injuries are not severe and heal entirely on their own. Maintain cleanliness in the area to prevent infections. Rinse using a mixture of water and hydrogen peroxide at a 1:1 ratio or salt water multiple times daily to speed up healing.

Call your dental professional or visit the nearest ER if the bleeding continues and does not stop. Also, call your physician or dentist if the cut extends onto the face, is deep, or you have developed a puncture through the cheek or lip. Additionally, contact your dentist if you experience symptoms of infection, such as redness widening around the wound, swelling, pus, fever, or if the wound stays painful and tender.

Serious Injury to the Soft Tissue

Soft tissue injuries, including injuries to your lips, gums, cheeks, and tongue, can lead to bleeding. To stop the bleeding, here is what you should do:

  • Use a caffeinated tea bag or moistened gauze to exert pressure on the bleeding area. Hold in position for fifteen to twenty minutes (tea has tannic acid that assists in shrinking blood vessels, thus slowing bleeding)
  • Rinse the mouth with water containing salt.
  • Hold an ice pack to the outer part of your cheek or mouth in the impacted areas for about five to ten minutes to relieve pain and control bleeding.
  • If bleeding does not stop, visit your dental professional immediately or the ER. Continue exerting pressure onto the bleeding area using gauze until you can see your dental professional.

Bleeding Gums

See an emergency dental professional for an exam if you have bleeding gums. The exam will assist in determining whether the injury to your gum is a substantial health problem or a minor irritation. To manage bleeding gums, rinse your mouth with hydrogen peroxide (you should not swallow it). You might also rinse the mouth with warm salt water to stop bleeding and reduce bacteria. If the bleeding results from a dental injury or trauma to your gum tissue, put an ice pack on the impacted area to relieve pain.

Some Cases Are Not Dental Emergencies

Some cases are not dental emergencies. For example, it would not be a dental emergency if you could wait a few days to visit your dentist. Put otherwise; in these cases, you still need to see your dental professional sooner, but booking an appointment during business hours is okay. Problems that initially appear to be emergencies could usually wait a couple of days if you know how to handle them. Dental issues that are not emergencies include:

  • Minor soft tissue injuries, such as a small sore or cut,
  • Something stuck between your teeth
  • Broken braces
  • A broken tooth that is not hurting
  • A small crack or chip in a tooth
  • Mild or dull toothache—a toothache treatment can be stalled if the pain is mild and a dental abscess is yet to form. But you might need urgent care for symptoms like swollen gums or high fever.

However, remember that if you experience severe pain or bleeding, see a healthcare provider or dentist immediately.

How to Manage Symptoms Until You Visit a Dental Professional

  • Slight soft tissue injuries—rinse the mouth thoroughly using antibacterial mouthwash or saltwater solution. Expert pressure on the impacted site using a clean gauze. You should stop bleeding in fifteen to twenty minutes. If not, and the bleeding becomes severe, seek immediate dental care.
  • Something stuck between teeth—if something like food particles is stuck between teeth, attempt to take it out gently with an interproximal toothbrush. Do not try to take out an object using sharp instruments.
  • Broken braces—except if you are bleeding, broken braces are often not considered an emergency. If the wire of your brace is broken and is poking your tongue or cheek, gently bend its end with a pencil eraser or another blunt object. After that, use orthodontic wax to cover the brace wire until you see your orthodontist or dentist.
  • A small tooth crack or chip—if your tooth is cracked or chipped and you are not experiencing any pain, it is okay to wait until your dental professional can attend to you. However, if you feel any sharp edge irritating your cheeks or tongue, cover that area using orthodontic wax.
  • Minor toothache—rinse the mouth using warm water. Floss to see whether there are any food particles lodged between the teeth. Take over-the-counter painkillers, like ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or naproxen. Never place them directly on the gums, as it will burn the tissue. Contact your dental professional to set up an appointment.

What You Should Do If You Have a Dental Emergency

If you have a dental emergency, the first step is to contact your dental professional for further instructions. Most dental professionals have an emergency contact you could call if it is after hours. If you do not have a dental professional, visit an urgent care center or the nearest ER.

Your dental professional will attend to you in their office for most dental emergencies, such as a knocked-out or broken tooth. For more severe injuries, like broken facial bones, you want to go straight to the emergency room.

When to Visit the Emergency Room for a Dental Emergency

If your dental professional’s office is not open when you develop a dental emergency, visit your nearest ER. The emergency room staff can assist in easing your symptoms until your dentist can attend to you.

They can administer medications, for example, pain relievers or antibiotics, to alleviate swelling and pain. However, they do not conduct restorative treatments like crowns or fillings. After receiving emergency care in the emergency room, you will still have to go to your dental professional as quickly as they return to the office.

Find a Reliable Emergency Dentist Near Me

Timely treatment is key when it comes to a dental emergency. If left untreated, dental emergencies can result in even more problems, including tooth loss, tooth movement, and dental infections. If you have a dental emergency, your first step should be to call your dentist.

At Northridge Advanced Dentistry, we understand that not every dental problem is urgent enough for after-hours care. Our expert dentists can assist you even if you have not scheduled an appointment. If you have any concerns or questions about handling a dental emergency, please contact us at 818-701-3010. A dental emergency can occur anytime, and we want to be there for you when it does.