Whether you have an active lifestyle or even in typical situations, dental emergencies can happen. Chewing on something hard may result in a substantially damaged tooth, or you might suddenly feel tooth pain without warning. In that case, you will need to be aware of getting emergency dental care as soon as possible. If you are in the area, Dr. John Harmann provides an emergency dentist whenever you need them. However, read on as we share the most common dental emergencies and what to do once it happens. To prevent more serious oral health issues, you will always have a Phoenix emergency dentist ready to serve you. We can provide emergency dentistry in our office once you visit.
Aside from helpful information on what to do in case of a dental emergency, we offer practical tips on dentures in Phoenix and useful information on teeth whitening in Phoenix from one of the foremost experts in family dental care.
The Seven Most Common Dental Emergencies in Phoenix
Severe Toothache
It would help if you didn’t ignore severe toothache once it occurs. It could be a sign of more severe trouble underneath. If you need to keep it overnight, you can rinse it with cold or warm water to bring temporary relief. You may take over-the-counter pain killers until you can schedule an appointment with an emergency dentist. We also offer tips on what to do in case of toothaches.
Tooth Injury
Suppose you bit a hard object or received any trauma on your tooth or your entire jaw, then that classifies as a tooth injury. In these cases, the tooth is not entirely removed. Instead, the tooth may be removed from its normal position or loosened up. Do not try to fix your tooth to avoid any damage. Should this happen, you need to find the nearest emergency dentists immediately. An emergency dentist should be able to treat tooth injury within 24 hours to restore the teeth to their normal state.
Knocked-out Tooth
This dental emergency means that the tooth (or teeth) are entirely removed from the socket due to a trauma or an accident. Fortunately, an emergency dentist can fix the tooth back to its socket within 2 hours of being knocked out. That is why it is crucial to have emergency dental care administered immediately. Keep the knocked-out tooth in a saline solution or a small container filled with saliva. In the meantime, you may gently rinse your mouth with a saline solution or salty water to prevent infection.
Dental Abscesses
A dental abscess is when an infection attacks the root of the tooth or the space between the teeth and gums. Like any infection, a dental abscess should be treated as soon as possible to prevent it from spreading to the surrounding tissue or even the rest of your body. A dental abscess is also considered a dental emergency and shouldn’t wait days for treatment.
Impaired Braces
A wire in your braces might come loose and damage your gums, tongue, or the inside of your cheeks. Moreover, since braces exert force on your teeth, having loose braces will cause toothaches. Emergency dental care is necessary to prevent infection to wounded tissues and restore your braces’ state. As a temporary measure, you may need to place a cotton ball or a piece of gauze to cover the end of the wire to prevent it from damaging soft tissues in your mouth.
Lost Dental Crown or Lost Filings
Biting or chewing on something hard may also cause crowns or filings to get loose or fall out of place. That will leave sensitive areas of your teeth exposed to infection. In that case, you need to seek help from emergency dentists as soon as possible. Emergency dental services can provide temporary filings, at least. An emergency dentist Phoenix has available can provide palliative care in case of toothaches until treatment for your lost dental crown is available.
Broken Tooth, Chipped Tooth, or Cracked Tooth
Even under normal eating conditions, teeth can chip or crack. In worse cases, these can break. A sudden dental emergency needs prompt attention to prevent the affected tooth from getting further damage. Urgent dental care for small cracks may require filing. However, emergency tooth extraction or root canal therapy might be required in worse cases.
Takeaways: We Will Help You Choose Which Is Best For You
At Dr. John Harman care in Phoenix, we are committed to helping you achieve a healthy, beautiful smile. We have emergency dentists available for you. We can respond to most dental emergencies once you visit our dental office. If you seek help because of dental pain, dental discomfort, or to maintain your overall dental health, you can rely on us to give you the best and the most affordable treatment. We also offer routine and emergency dental care services at an affordable price. To schedule an appointment, contact us at 602-840-5300 or visit our website at Dr. John Harman Dental Care for more inquiries about your dental needs.