There’s nothing quite like a dental emergency to ruin your day. But the truth is that dental emergencies happen. And when they do, you need to know the proper steps to take and where to turn for help.
In extreme cases where trauma has occurred to the face, including the mouth, it may be appropriate to call an ambulance or seek emergency medical services at a hospital. But most of the time, calling 911 for a dental emergency won’t get you the treatment you need. Instead, it’s best to call your dentist.
At Fresh Dental in Winnipeg, we’re proud to offer comprehensive emergency dental services to our patients in a caring and timely manner. Below are some of the most common dental emergencies we deal with on a regular basis.
What Is a Dental Emergency?
A dental emergency is any dental situation that requires immediate attention. If you’re in severe pain, have lost part or all of a tooth, are experiencing oral swelling, bleeding, or discharge, have a fever that you suspect is related to an oral infection, or can’t bite down or chew comfortably, there’s a high likelihood you’ve got a dental emergency on your hands. Even if you’re unsure if your situation qualifies as a true dental emergency, call our clinic for advice and schedule an appointment as soon as possible.
Common Dental Emergencies
Severe Toothache
If you have severe tooth pain that isn’t subsiding, it’s time to see a dentist. Leaving a toothache untreated will only lead to worse potential outcomes. A toothache can result from tooth decay, an abscess or infection, or a cracked or damaged tooth, to name a few potential causes.
The team at Fresh Dental will be happy to help you identify and treat the root of the problem using state-of-the-art techniques and equipment.
Object Stuck Between Teeth
If you’ve got something jammed between two teeth and you can’t remove it with dental floss, don’t get too aggressive. Instead, call Fresh Dental. Trying to remove a stuck object yourself can result in further damage, especially if you don’t have the proper instruments.
Chipped or Broken Tooth
Perhaps you bit down on something unexpectedly hard or knocked heads with someone during a sporting event, and now you’ve got a chipped or broken tooth. Rinse your mouth with warm water, apply gauze to the site of any bleeding, and use a cold compress or an ice pack on your face to reduce swelling (if necessary). A chipped or broken tooth is always considered a dental emergency, and at Fresh Dental we’re prepared and ready to help.
Lost Filling or Crown
If you lose a crown or filling, there’s a good chance you’ll be in quite a bit of pain. Also, your tooth will be compromised and will require immediate repair. Collect the filling or crown in a small bag or container, if possible, and head over to Fresh Dental for treatment.
Tooth That’s Come Out of Its Socket
If you get a tooth knocked out, time is of the essence. Find the tooth (if possible), treat for swelling, and seek emergency dental treatment as quickly as you can. Pick up the knocked-out tooth by its crown, never its root, and try to clean it as best as you can with a saline solution if you don’t have saline on hand you can use milk if you are not allergic or just use your own saliva if clean. Once the root is clean try to place it back in the socket in the same orientation as it was before the accident. If you feel like you may swallow it by accident then do not attempt to place it back in the socket but put it in a cup of milk or saline (water with a pinch of salt if no saline on hand) and try to get in to see your Dentist. The sooner the tooth can go back into the socket the better chance of success (ideally less than 30 minutes). Remember not to scrub or touch the root surface.
Infection or Abscess
An oral abscess or infection is a serious issue. It can spread quickly to tooth and gum tissue or, indeed, throughout the rest of your body. If you’re experiencing painful and unexplained swelling on your gums or near the roots of your teeth, seek dental care as soon as possible. In the meantime, rinsing with salt water may be beneficial.
Broken Braces
If your braces break, you’ll likely be in quite a bit of discomfort. Try to gently tuck any wires back into place while in transit to the dentist, and avoid snipping them yourself at all costs. If you can’t tuck wires in comfortably, cover them with orthodontic wax or a cotton ball until you can get the treatment you need.
Fresh Dental Emergency Services
At Fresh Dental, we’re pleased to offer some of the best emergency dental services in Winnipeg. Call us with your dental emergencies, and we’ll fit you in no matter what—even outside business hours, if necessary. Our patients come first, and we look forward to helping you soon!