Dental treatment, like all other medical care, sometimes needs to be provided in an emergency.
However, until recently, not many individuals have been concerned with defining what constitutes a dental emergency. The widespread COVID-19 radically altered the landscape.
Due to the widespread COVID-19 pandemic, dental clinics across the country have been forced to cancel patient appointments and even close their doors. Appointments for regular checks, consultations, and elective cosmetic procedures like tooth whitening have been put on hold. Dental Services that are still in business strictly prioritise dental emergencies.
What Are Emergency Dentists?
An emergency dentist is a regular dentist who can handle situations that happen quickly. Therefore, dental services and emergency dentists may also practice in a dental office. In addition, they have a set time to cope with dental emergencies.
Most dentists are on call for emergencies. For example, they may need to call a hospital’s emergency room to help people who have hurt themselves in a car accident, a fall, or any other way.
Services for Dental Emergencies
There are times when dental emergencies can be life-threatening. An emergency dentist will give you painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, and antibiotics to ease your symptoms and eliminate the infection.
If you have pain or problems with your teeth and aren’t sure if you need to call an emergency dentist, here are some situations that do.
1- The Missing Crown
Losing a crown may not seem like a big deal, but it is a typical dental emergency that can be dangerous. If you notice that you’re missing a crown, opt dental services.
2- Damaged or Missing Teeth
Adults shouldn’t have loose teeth, which could signify a dental emergency. When a person loses a tooth, it can change the way they bite and how well they can chew.
Therefore, a dentist should check loose teeth to see if they can save them.
A broken or chipped tooth is not always an emergency in the mouth. It might not look good, but it probably can wait unless it causes other problems.
3- Unprotected Nerves
You will need to go to the emergency if anything like this happens because this is one of the most painful problems. Emergency dentists and dental services can apply desensitizing medicine or fluoride ointments to the gum area and treat every gum disease to reduce the pain and effect of the exposed nerve.
4- Serious Toothache
Toothaches are another common reason people go to the dentist in an emergency. A toothache can come on quickly or build up slowly over time. This problem can be a sign of a bigger problem.
5- Bleeding
If you brush too hard or a piece of hard food scrapes or cuts your gums, they may bleed. It is also a sign of gum disease or gingivitis. These are things to worry about, but they are not true emergencies.
According to Dental Services, if the bleeding doesn’t stop or is accompanied by a toothache or a bump, it could be a sign of something more serious. Severe tooth loss can damage the gums, so it’s essential to get rid of it immediately.
A dentist or periodontist is the best person to tell how urgent a problem is. You might need stitches to stop the bleeding and keep an infection from happening.
6- Signs Of Infection
If a tooth is showing signs of infection or has an abscess, it can cause different symptoms. A person can be in so much pain that it’s hard for them to eat.
There could be a bump on the gum that looks like a boil and is full of fluid. There may also be bruising in the area or even in the face. The infection can sometimes be bad enough to cause a fever.
You have an infection or an abscess when you have a dental emergency. If a tooth infection is not treated on time, it can spread to other teeth or the jaw. In the worst cases, an infection can spread to the blood and kill the person.
7- Ended Up Losing Fillings
It could be an emergency if you have a lot of pain and swelling after losing a filling. When bacteria get into the exposed tooth tissue, it causes inflammation.
When you see your dental services, he will remove the decay to treat the infection. Most of the time, decay happens between your tooth and the old filling.
8- Trauma
Tooth loss results from trauma and is a typical dental emergency. Accidents can cause trauma. They can loosen teeth and make you bleed. But being on time is the key.
First, rinse the tooth with water or milk if you lose it. Then, take the tooth and put it on your cheek. It will keep both the tooth and its root from drying out.
Now, go to your dentist as soon as possible to check out. They will also stop the bleeding and treat the pain.
Conclusion
If you have a dental emergency, the best thing to do is call dental services. It should be done by phone since it’s likely that walk-ins are limited. Many practices still take emergency calls for regular visits even when they are closed.
Talk to the dentist about the problem. You can also use teledentistry, which lets you talk to a dentist over the phone or through a video call on the internet. If they think the problem is an emergency, you can both devise a plan for how to treat it.
However, be aware that, due to COVID-19 rules, your next trip to the dentist might be different from what you’re used to. New ways of treating patients are being used in dental offices. They will be able to tell you what you need to do.
