According to the American Dental Association, due to the coronavirus outbreak, dentists are now advised to handle only emergency dentistry procedures and postpone elective treatments. Dental emergencies often vary in terms of severity. In some cases, certain measures can be taken to get temporary relief while waiting for a dental appointment. On the other hand, some dental treatments cannot be put off. Postponing treatment in such cases may result in serious complications.
The following are dental emergencies that require prompt treatment, regardless of the coronavirus outbreak.
A tooth can crack or break if exposed to more force than it can handle. A broken tooth could result from biting something hard like nuts, bones or ice, teeth grinding or from a hard fall. The teeth also weaken naturally due to aging. Regardless of the cause of tooth damage, an emergency appointment with a dentist is important to prevent further damage. If an appointment is not immediately possible, placing an ice pack on the area and using pain medication can help with the swelling and discomfort.
Trauma is a common dental emergency that can lead to tooth loss. Accidents can be traumatizing and can potentially cause knocked-out teeth and excess bleeding. Fortunately, a knocked-out tooth can still be salvaged, but this depends majorly on timeliness, which means the procedure cannot be postponed. Keep the teeth moisturized in milk or clean water, call an emergency dentistry practice for an appointment and head to their office immediately. The dentist will give a thorough assessment to determine if saving the tooth is possible. If there is bleeding, they will attempt to stop it and alleviate the pain.
Several factors can contribute to severe tooth pain. Treatment for toothaches cannot be put off during the coronavirus outbreak because the pain can be debilitating. Some dental procedures can cause pain, but the discomfort should not last more than a day or two. Pulp infection or abscess can also cause pain, which can make biting and chewing difficult. Other factors include injury or wisdom tooth inflammation.
All the instances mentioned above demand emergency dentistry care. The dentist will examine the tooth and determine the best treatment. The primary goal would be to relieve pain and stop any infection from spreading. They will explain what is wrong, but sometimes, extracting the tooth might be the only way to obtain relief.
A broken filling may not require urgent treatment, but it may quickly turn to an emergency if it causes pain and inflammation, which is when emergency dentistry care would be necessary. Inflammation occurs when bacteria invade the exposed tooth tissue. During the appointment with the dentist, they will try to eliminate the infection by removing any decay. The decay often occurs around the tooth and the filling. After removing the damaged filling, the dentist will provide a new filling. If a dental crown gets broken, the dentist will assess the tooth and provide a replacement.
When experiencing a dental emergency, do not hesitate to contact the dentist. Some emergency dentistry procedures cannot be postponed, so it is better to seek treatment without delay.
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