Treating Dental Emergencies
Whether you’ve got a severe toothache or have suffered an injury playing sports or during other physical activity, a dental emergency at home can feel scary and cause much discomfort. You’ll want to call our Winnipeg dentists so they can arrange to see you as soon as possible.
It is best to have your dentist assess your specific situation and decide on the best coarse of treatment.
If you’re unable to get to the dentist right away (within the hour), there are a few things you can do at home in the meantime. Here is some advice about what to do about common dental emergencies.
How To Manage Common Dental Emergencies
The following are some common dental emergencies we often see at Academy Dental Group, and how you can address them at home to reduce discomfort until you can get to our office.
Chipped or Damaged Teeth
Is your tooth chipped or broken? Your dentist may be able to attach the missing piece. If possible, try to locate it and bring it to your dental appointment. If you are unable to locate it, your dentist will likely be able to replace it with a restoration such as a crown or filling.
Severe Toothache
Severe pain localized to your tooth can cause a lot of discomfort. You might feel a throbbing or sharp pain that could be caused by an infection in the root of your tooth, among other things.
Until you see the dentist, you can try some home remedies for an aching tooth, such as applying an ice pack to the affected area. Taking an over-the-counter pain reliever may also help to reduce pain. If the tooth is severely infected, your dentist may need to perform a root canal.
Knocked Out Tooth
If one of your teeth has been knocked out, try to locate it and rinse it off with water (not soap or harsh chemicals as this can damage the tooth).
If you can, place your knocked-out tooth back into the socket and bite down gently but firmly so it stays in place. If this is not possible, make sure the tooth stays moist by placing it back in your mouth but just inside your cheek or even by placing it into a glass of milk or saliva until you can get to the dentist. Ideally within a half hour to an hour.
If the tooth is truly lost, there are tooth replacement options that your dentist can discuss with you such as a dental implant or crown.
Damaged Crown or Filling
Just like your natural teeth, fillings and crowns can get chipped and become lost. If you can, you should locate the missing filling or crown and try to place it back into its place. You will need to seek emergency dental care to properly fix this issue.
If you cannot locate your crown or filling, your dentist will likely be able to provide a replacement.