Understanding Dental Emergencies
A dental emergency is anything from acute pain to breaking of teeth, even with or without pain, that requires quick care.
When should you go to the emergency room?
If it's outside of dental clinic hours, or the dentist can't see you and you're having systemic symptoms like fever, massive swelling, cold sweats, or waking up in the night with cold sweats, I would probably go to the emergency room.
If it's during normal working hours and a dentist can fit you in, I would go see the dentist. I used to be a physician assistant in the emergency room, and I'll be honest, doctors and physician assistants don't know much about teeth. We were limited to basically giving you an antibiotic and some pain medicine.
What are the types of emergencies seen in the dental office?
The types of emergencies we see in the dental office range, but the most common one is acute pain. This is usually from an abscessed tooth where the tooth, whether from a crack, a break, or a cavity, has reached the bone of the jaw, causing pain, or the nerves are irritated and it hurts. Most commonly, we can do a root canal, which is probably the definitive care, along with antibiotics.
What happens if you break a tooth?
Other emergencies involve broken teeth. If you break a front tooth and you're planning to attend a wedding, it's not a good situation. You need prompt care, which can be handled with a filling or a crown. In the worst case, if you lose a tooth, we can provide temporary flippers that look like a tooth and fill in the gap. We can replace the tooth with a bridge or an implant.
Are wisdom teeth considered an emergency?
Wisdom teeth can be an emergency if they are flaring, pushing on the tooth next to them, and causing pain. When you come to see us, we will do a three-dimensional cone beam CT scan to see the relation of your wisdom teeth to your nerves and check for infection. Sometimes we can handle this with an extraction in the office, or we may need to refer you to an oral surgeon. Usually, you'll receive an antibiotic and pain relief that day.
Why are my gums bleeding?
Another reason patients come to the office is suddenly noticing bleeding or inflamed gums. This can happen for various reasons, such as a popcorn shell getting stuck, an infection of the gums from gum disease, trauma, or hormonal changes like pregnancy. We can do a cleaning and fix these issues, but the solution depends on the specific cause.
What if a restoration is broken or loose?
Another reason for emergency visits is a broken or loose restoration, like a crown, filling, or veneer. Generally, when you come to our office, we'll check if it's completely off and why it came off. Was it due to cavities underneath that broke the bond, or did the cement lose its bond?
Treatment can be as simple as re-cementing it, or you might need a new crown or veneer. In some cases, the tooth might need extraction and replacement with an implant or bridge.
When is an emergency root canal needed?
Some patients require an emergency root canal because the infection has reached the bone. The only way to solve this is by doing a root canal. Oral antibiotics penetrate the bone but not the tooth, where bacteria hide. We must clean it out, seal it, and you'll leave with antibiotics to treat outside the tooth, but we handle the inside.
What happens during an emergency exam?
When we see a patient for an emergency exam, we do our best to provide same-day care. If possible, we'll do the root canal or extraction that day to relieve pain. Sometimes we can't provide same-day care due to severe pain or infection, requiring antibiotics first.
Occasionally, we can't perform the procedure immediately, but we'll ensure you get pain control and schedule you for the necessary care as soon as possible.
At Foothills Dentistry, you come first. Whether you need dental care or simply have questions, call us at (706) 702-2771 or email [email protected] to schedule your visit. Our team is here to help you every step of the way.