Emergency Dental Care: Fast, Reliable Treatment When You Need It Most

Emergency dentistry treats dental trauma that requires immediate care. Some examples of this include a knocked-out tooth or a broken wire in braces. It also includes lost fillings and crowns that require immediate treatment to prevent infections.

Symptoms that qualify for emergency dental care include pain, bleeding and other signs of injury or infection. Patients can call their routine dentist for instructions or use emergency dental service to find a nearby emergency dental Crestwood KY.

Knocked-out tooth

Knocked-out teeth are one of the most common dental emergencies, but they can usually be saved if it is treated in time. The first step is to locate the tooth and rinse it gently without scrubbing it. If possible, reposition the tooth in its socket and make an emergency appointment. If it is not possible to reinsert the tooth, store it in a glass of milk until you can see a dentist.

A displaced tooth can be preserved by holding it in place with your fingers or with a wad of wet gauze or tissue. You can also use a mouthguard while playing sports to protect your teeth from injuries. If the tooth cannot be re-implanted, the dentist will likely splint it to the surrounding teeth for about a week or more. You can then have the tooth replaced with a dental bridge or dental implant once the socket heals. Knocked-out teeth are almost always preventable with good oral care and regular dental visits.

Broken wire in braces

A broken wire in braces is a common orthodontic emergency. It is important to act promptly to minimize discomfort and ensure that the teeth remain aligned properly. An orthodontist can repair the problem and help patients maintain a straight smile.

A thin wire called the archwire runs through brackets that are placed on your teeth. It works with rubber bands and other attachments to apply force that gradually shifts the teeth into place. A broken or displaced wire can cause pain and may poke your gums, cheeks or tongue.

It is important to avoid hard or sticky foods to prevent additional damage to the braces and wire. It is also a good idea to use tweezers to move the wire into a more comfortable position or cover it with orthodontic wax. You should also call your orthodontist to schedule an appointment for a wire replacement. A quick fix can save time and money.

Toothache

When faced with a dental emergency, the first thing you should do is contact your dentist. If you have a lot of pain, swelling or bleeding, rinse your mouth and apply pressure with sterile gauze. This will help stop the bleeding and reduce your chances of infection. If you lose a tooth, you should try to pick it up by the crown, avoiding the root. Place it between your gums and cheek or in some milk.

In most cases, you can relieve the pain from a toothache by taking over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. You can also use a cold compress to help ease the pain and swelling. If the pain persists, you should call your dentist and arrange an appointment as soon as possible. Ignoring the problem can worsen the condition and require more extensive treatment. A quick treatment can also prevent the condition from spreading to other areas of the body.

Tooth fracture

A tooth fracture is a crack in the hard outer layer of the tooth. It can result from traumatic injuries and occlusal abnormalities. A fractured tooth is usually painful and may be accompanied by periapical lesions.

Fortunately, these problems are preventable. Practicing good oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist reduces dental trauma, and patients can avoid serious issues by schedul-ing emergency treatment as soon as they notice pain or discomfort.

The prognosis of a fractured tooth depends on its severity and location. Minor fractures that do not involve the pulp have a favorable prognosis, but a cracked tooth is less likely to survive. To determine the extent of a fracture, radiographs are taken with various angulations. These images provide a baseline for future evaluation and help to detect complications. Using this information, the dentist can restore or replace the fractured portion of the tooth to improve the patient’s long-term prognosis. Emergency dental Crestwood KY can also address any underlying causes of the fracture, such as enamel weakening.