Emergency Dental Information in Plantation FL
If you’ve cracked a tooth, lost a crown or filling, had significant tooth pain, or had any other dental emergency, it’s time to see your dentist right away. Even if your injury or pain isn’t severe, it’s still a good idea to seek treatment from a dentist as soon as possible. If left untreated, many dental problems can get worse and result in more serious complications like tooth loss.
Your Plantation FL dentists are trained to detect serious conditions in their earliest stages when they’re easier to treat. And with regular check-ups and cleanings, we can help you keep your smile healthy and avoid common problems like cavities and gum disease altogether.
Toothaches in Plantation FL
A toothache is an uncomfortable feeling in and around a tooth, usually caused by some sort of trauma to the tooth or gums. This pain is often sharp and throbbing in nature. It can be constant or have intervals of relief. Some patients may experience this pain occasionally, while others experience it constantly. When this happens, it’s important to seek dental treatment as soon as possible.
For example, an infection left untreated in the jaw can spread to other parts of the body and cause serious damage. On the other hand, if a patient seeks out immediate care when experiencing a mild-to-moderate toothache, they may be able to have the issue resolved with a simple filling or other minor procedure. Either way, it is important to seek out dental care as quickly as possible in order to keep yourself safe and healthy.
Dental trauma
Regardless of the situation, it’s always best to call your dentist as soon as possible after emergency dental care is needed. If you have a tooth that is cracked or broken, your dentist will be able to help determine the best next steps for you. If you experience pain during office hours and cannot wait until the next business day to see the dentist, call your emergency dentist for advice. In the meantime, rinse your mouth with warm water to clean it out and apply a cold compress to relieve pain and swelling.
There are two types of dental emergencies that can arise: traumatic injuries and sudden onset of severe pain. Traumatic injuries include facial cuts occurring while playing sports, biting down on something hard, or a slip-and-fall accident that results in a broken jaw. Sudden onset of pain could mean you have an abscess, which is an infection that occurs at the root of the tooth. The infection causes pain and pressure that can radiate throughout the face and head.
Knocked-Out Permanent Tooth
A traumatic injury can knock a tooth out of your mouth completely, but more often, it will just loosen the tooth. In such situations, do your best to remain calm. A serious accident can cause your heart to beat faster, increase blood pressure and cause you to feel light-headed. It’s important to be evaluated by a medical professional as soon as possible. If you’ve lost consciousness or have sustained a concussion, you’ll need to be assessed by a doctor before you can safely return to a normal routine.
Rinse out your mouth with warm water and use gauze to stop the bleeding. Avoid touching the roots of your teeth in an area where the tissue is swollen or damaged. Your dentist will use x-ray technology to determine if any broken tissue needs to be treated before restoring your tooth. If your tooth has been knocked out of alignment, your dentist might recommend splinting it to neighboring teeth to maintain proper spacing and avoid misalignment.
Broken Tooth
Clean out the area gently with a warm water rinse. If there’s a facial injury as well, apply a cold compress to the injured area to control pain and swelling. If any tooth fragments can be found and recovered, retrieve them, and make an emergency visit with them to a dentist.
Broken Jaw
Prevent as much movement as possible by tying the jaw to the mouth with a towel, tie, or some other cloth that can keep the mouth closed and as immobile as possible. For this emergency, go to a hospital emergency ward rather than a dentist as this may require more general medical treatment.
If an emergency occurs, the most important thing to do is maintain calm. Panic in an emergency situation just means that nothing gets done efficiently. Acting in a calm, controlled manner will do more to solve a dental emergency than panic. Contact our team at Ernie Soto, DDS for more information.
