What To Do In Case of Emergency

No matter how careful you are, dental emergencies can happen at any time to anyone. While some dental emergencies may only be minor, others require immediate dental care in order to preserve the tooth and oral health. Below are some common dental emergencies as well as tips on what to do until you can seek care.

Avulsion: A knocked out tooth is a dental emergency requiring immediate care in order to increase the chances of saving and placing the tooth back into the socket. In the meantime, hold the tooth by the top (the crown), rinse off the tooth using water, and try to place the tooth into its original socket. Do not touch the roots as this can also limit the chances of being able to save the tooth. If you are unable to replace the tooth into its socket, place it in a small container with milk and see your dentist immediately.

Partially dislodged tooth: Similar to avulsed teeth, partially dislodged teeth require immediate dental attention. Applying a cold compress and talking an over-the-counter pain reliever can help alieve the pain until you can see the dentist. Additionally, avoid playing with the tooth with your tongue or finger, as this can introduce bacteria to the vulnerable and exposed roots.

Abscess or Infection: Another serious condition, tooth infections can have significant consequences for a patient’s oral and general health. Often indicated by a painful pimple-like swelling on the gum and tooth pain, if you suspect that you have an abscessed tooth, it is crucial to visit your dentist as soon as possible. Until then, trying easing the pain with a mild salt water solution several times a day.

Fracture, Chip, or Crack: Depending on the type of break, the tooth may be salvageable. In the event you experience a tooth fracture, save the pieces of your tooth and rinse your mouth using warm water. If there is bleeding, use a gauze to staunch the bleeding and apply a cold compress to the outside of the mouth to alleviate swelling and pain.

Toothache: While not an immediate dental concern, a persistent toothache may be an indication of underlying dental issues. Until you can see your dentist, use floss to remove any lodged food debris in between teeth and apply a cold compress to the area outside the mouth. While you can take aspirin to relieve the pain, do not put the painkiller directly against the affected area as that can burn the gum tissue.

Lost Crown or Filling: After making an appointment, use over-the-counter dental cement to cover the empty cavity. In the event of a lost crown, save the crown and if possible, try to slip the crown over the tooth.

At Lorton-Springfield Dental Implant and Oral Surgery, we offer procedures to help patients regain function following dental emergencies. In the event you are experience excessive bleeding or pain, visit your local dentist or emergency room.

Reasons Why Teeth May Require Extraction

While permanent teeth should ideally last a lifetime, there are many reasons why one or more teeth may need to be removed from your smile. From decay to accidental fracture, teeth may sometimes need to be extracted in order to restore and preserve a patient’s oral health. Here are some of the most common reasons behind tooth extractions:

Overcrowding: For some patients, one or both of their jaw arches may be too small to accommodate all of their teeth. As a result, the teeth may be aligning improperly, which can cause secondary issues, such as jaw tension. Extracting one or two jam-packed teeth can be done as preparation for another procedure, such as braces, to help correct further correct overcrowding issues.  .

Impacted Teeth: Impacted teeth frequently occur when the wisdom teeth (third molars) fail to emerge properly through the gums. When this happens, the impacted molar can begin pushing on the surrounding teeth in an effort to break through tissue. When impacted teeth partially emerge, the flap between the gap and tooth is prone to collecting debris. As debris and bacteria collect, patients may be at risk of tooth infection. Impacted teeth require removal to prevent damage to your smile.

Tooth Infection: Extensive dental decay or damage can cause the inner pulp of the tooth to become infected. While infected or abscessed teeth may be successfully treated with root canal therapy, severely damaged teeth may be beyond saving. Under these circumstances, the abscessed tooth needs to be extracted in order to prevent the infection from spreading and to preserve the patient’s overall health.

Gum Disease: Similar to the extraction required for severely abscessed teeth, patients in advanced stages of periodontitis may need teeth extracted in order to protect the health of surrounding teeth. Additionally, deteriorated jaw volume caused by gum disease may cause teeth to become irreparably loose, requiring their extraction.

Broken or Fractured Tooth:  Damage does not always stem from infection or decay. In some cases, accidental trauma such as fracture or cracking to the tooth may require extraction. Typically, this is a result of the break being so deep that the inner pulp is left susceptible to infection.

Are You Experiencing Tooth Problems? Visit Us Today

At Lorton-Springfield Dental Implants and Oral Surgery, Dr. Patel offers a number of comprehensive extraction procedures to help patients re-establish their oral health. For more information about tooth extraction, contact our Northern Virginia practice today,