Severe tooth pain is a sure sign of an emergency. Even if the problem is as simple as a piece of food stuck between your teeth, it’s important to take it seriously and visit an Emergency Dentist in Atlanta GA soon to prevent further damage.
Slipping and falling, sports injuries and other traumas can knock a tooth loose. The key is to find the tooth and place it back in its socket if possible.
Knocked-Out Teeth
One of the most common dental emergencies is a knocked out tooth. This happens most often in children but can also affect adults. If a tooth is knocked out, the chances of it being saved increase dramatically the sooner it’s reimplanted.
If a knocked out tooth is found, try to locate it and gently put it back into its socket (the hole in the gum that holds each permanent tooth). Be sure to hold it by the crown, not the root. If the tooth can’t be put back in place, rinse it quickly in saline solution or milk and store it until you see an Emergency Dentist in Atlanta GA.
If a tooth has been completely knocked out, the only option may be to get an artificial replacement. The best way to avoid this is to prevent tooth injury by wearing a mouthguard while playing sports or using a bike helmet. A free app available in the Android and iOS apps stores called ToothSOS provides illustrated step-by-step instructions for dealing with different types of dental injuries.
Cracked Teeth
The quickest way to prevent a cracked tooth from becoming an emergency is to practice good oral hygiene and visit your dentist regularly. However, if you do crack your teeth, it is important to seek treatment right away. This will minimize your treatment needs and increase the chance that your tooth can be saved.
A crack in your teeth can cause pain when chewing and biting, allow bacteria to enter the inner tooth and lead to decay and infection, and restrict your ability to eat certain foods, which can result in dietary restrictions. In addition, the crack can worsen over time, which increases your chances of needing a root canal or even having to have the tooth removed.
If you have a cracked tooth, take acetaminophen or another over-the-counter pain reliever and rinse your mouth with salt water. Also, if the cracked tooth has a jagged or sharp edge, cover it with a piece of sugarless chewing gum or wax paraffin, and rinse your mouth again.
Swelling
Swelling in the gums is a common problem. Sometimes it can be a sign of poor dental hygiene or it could be more serious. Localized swelling around one tooth may indicate a bacterial infection known as a dental abscess. This pocket of pus is a dangerous condition that can spread to the brain and other parts of the body. If left untreated, it can lead to a life-threatening complication called sepsis.
Inflammation and swelling are the main symptoms of a dental abscess. It is also a sign of an infection in the bone, which may require root canal therapy or removal of the affected tooth. Another possible symptom of a dental infection is swollen lymph nodes in the neck or head. This is usually a temporary condition and is the body’s way of directing more blood flow to the area. This can also help reduce any pain in the mouth or jaw. The swollen lymph nodes typically go away once the infection is treated.
Infections
A toothache or a broken crown are one thing, but if the pain is severe or you notice swelling of your gums or face it may be an infection. Infections in the mouth can be as dangerous as other body infections if not treated promptly.
An emergency dentist can help you treat infections that occur in the mouth such as a periapitic abscess or a pericoronitis. They can also help you treat injuries such as a lateral luxation or a tooth avulsion.
A good emergency dentist will not only alleviate your pain but will find a long-term solution to the problem and prevent it from happening again in the future. They will likely prescribe you antibiotics for any infections that they identify and recommend that you follow their instructions at home to speed up healing. They may also instruct you to take ice packs and over-the-counter pain relievers as well.