What to do in dental emergency: Step-by-step guide

Medical

One of the greatest nightmares and excruciating events is dealing with a dental emergency. The bleeding and pain of a fallen tooth can be scary, and most people tend to get disoriented. Things worsen, especially at night when most nearby dental clinics are closed. In such instances, you must take the right action to deal with the situation. 

Therefore, you should be cautious and knowledgeable enough to follow every procedure accurately. Any wrong move could make things worse. 

Did you know that instant action or dental first aid could help you reduce adverse outcomes by about 43%? These immediate reactions can make a difference in whether you lose or save a tooth. 

Due to sudden emergencies, most people do things randomly, leading to other complications. There are also dangers of assuming you can deal with the problem without seeking help from experts to prevent long-term issues. 

So, what immediate steps can you take at such moments? This article explores step-by-step guidelines to educate you on the best emergency response plans.

1) Assess the situation

The first thing you should do in case of a dental emergency is to assess the situation to understand what is happening. 

During the assessment, focus on bleeding, pain extent, and how many teeth are affected. Understanding the severity of your action can help you decide on the best response plan.

You should act quickly to prevent further complications if the condition seems severe. Ideally, get to the closest local dental clinic.  For instance, if you are in Levittown and have a dental emergency, searching for an emergency dentist Levittown can help you access urgent dental care. Luckily for you, Levittown has a couple of clinics that specialize in emergency care and services. 

One of the best clinics for visits is Whitehill Dental, which is open to children and adults. It offers many services, including handling urgent dental care needs. It can also address any dental condition, including those that may need invasive processes like surgeries.

2) Address  emergencies

You already know that the best way to handle any dental emergency is for all the professionals to help. However, there are many precautions you can take on your way to the hospitals or at times like night when most clinics are closed, and attending hospitals may take time. So, here is a guide to specific situations.

Continuous Bleeding

Bleeding can occur in various situations, like a knocked-off tooth or gum. You should not allow the blood to flow all over your mouth; you should focus on controling the bleeding and ensuring that germs do not enter the open wounds. This can easily cause infection. Do not brush your teeth because you can open the wound and trigger more bleeding.

The first action is to rinse your mouth with warm or salty water. Do not add too much salt; make lukewarm salty water. It may be painful, but the warm water will prevent swelling, while the salt prevents infections.

Do not use other products like mouthwash or rinse with cold water. Swirl the water a few times in your mouth while concentrating it in the place that is bleeding. Then, spit it out. Do this for about five to ten minutes. 

Knocked Out Tooth

If your tooth suddenly falls off, you need to ensure you increase the chances of reimplantation. So, pick up the tooth with its crown and avoid touching the roots. Rinse it in saline solutions or dip it in milk. Do not clean it using a brush or anything. 

If possible, gently push it back from where it came from. Do not force it, but do it gently. If not, store it in the saline solution and let the dentist reimplant it. 

Severe Toothache

Toothaches tend to arise due to various conditions; hence, every measure you take should address the pain. First, rinse your mouth with warm, salty water. The water reduces bacterial action in case of infection and can also prevent inflammation. 

After using salty water, you can cold-press the affected area. Take an ice pack and put it on your cheek closer to the affected area. This will help numb the nerves, thereby reducing the pain. You can also take pills to deal with severe and stinging aches.

Flossing can help you deal with the situation and remove the debris if particles are lodged between the teeth. Always floss in front of a mirror to see what you are doing. 

Cracked or Fractured Tooth

A cracked or broken tooth can be painful due to nerve disturbance in the enamel. Therefore, the first action should be pain relief. Ideally, using pain medication and a cold press should work for you. 

If you have dental wax, you can use it to cover the fractured tooth. Alternatively, you can use sugar-free gum and gently put it in a future area. Covering the broken section prevents any exposure to infection or further harm.

Keep warm, salty water in your mouth until you visit the dentist. Avoid flossing or brushing your teeth.

Abscess

Abscesses in your teeth can only mean one thing: infection. This commonly arises from the gum or deep in an infected cavity. It could also be due to gingivitis. You can drink warm and salty water and spit it out to avoid ingesting pus. Do not perform any surgical procedures, mainly draining the abscess. Allow dentists to handle the rest to ensure a high hygiene standard. 

Broken Braces or Wires

Broken braces or wires can cause irritation and pain when they pierce your mouth or gums. To deal with the situation, you can gently push back the broken wire. However, you should be careful; do not touch the wire with your hands. Instead, use a cotton swab to push the wires into position. 

Next, cover the broken wire or braces with dental wax. This can prevent the war from piercing you.

Stay calm and get expert help

Dental emergencies can be very scary, and most people do things that could harm or worsen the conditions. The best reaction is to stay calm and follow the right dental emergency tips to address the issues. It is always best to talk to experts for help. 

However, at times, like at night, standard protocols like using warm water, taking pain medication, and cold press routines can stop further infection and pain. The right action will help save your tooth and prevent worse outcomes. 

Follow the procedure for every incident and avoid irrational actions like brushing your teeth or manually trying to fix the problem you can’t address.