If you are experiencing severe tooth pain or have suffered an injury to your teeth or gums, it’s vital to get to the dentist as soon as possible. Delaying treatment is ill-advised and can lead to expensive and complex procedures to restore the health and beauty of your smile.
Common Dental Emergencies
A toothache may only require a simple filling now, but if you wait, chances are you will need root canal therapy (RCT) and a crown to relieve your pain and repair the tooth.
A loose or knocked-out tooth that has occurred due to injury must be treated in under an hour for any chance of re-plantation.
A broken tooth will typically require restoration with a crown. If it has broken at the center, the tooth will either need root canal therapy to save it or extraction if RCT is impossible.
Lost or damaged restorations should be replaced or repaired within a few days to prevent gum tissue from growing into the space once occupied by the prosthetic.
An abscess must be treated immediately to avoid the spread of infection to other teeth and soft-tissue, you may have an abscess if you are having tooth pain and notice swelling or bumps on the gum under the affected tooth.
What to do if You Experience a Dental Emergency
If an injury has caused one or more teeth to become loose or dislodged, get to an emergency dentist immediately. There is a small chance that the tooth can be saved if treatment is begun within the hour. After you have located the tooth, hold it by the crown and rinse gently. Be careful not to disturb the attached natural strands as they are essential to the re-plantation process.
If you have an abscess, call the dentist for an emergency appointment. If swelling or severe pain develops and you can’t get to the dentist, go to an emergency room for treatment.
If you have a toothache, call the dentist to arrange for the next available appointment. In the meantime, use a topical painkiller or over-the-counter analgesic to reduce the pain. Use a cold compress or an ice pack to decrease swelling if present.
If a crown, bridge, or denture has been damaged or lost, call the dentist for a prompt appointment. You can use temporary dental cement to keep it in place until your appointment.
When you see the dentist regularly, take good care of your teeth, and protect them with a mouth guard when appropriate, your chances of experiencing a dental emergency are small. If you do suffer an injury or severe tooth pain, don’t let a potentially simple issue turn into a major problem.
Windsor Park Dental Offers Emergency Services in Winnipeg
Call us at the first sign of dental pain or immediately after any trauma to your teeth or gums. We offer same-day crowns and root canal therapy for your convenience.