Dental Emergencies - When to Seek Urgent Dental Care

Whether it’s tooth pain or injuries to the soft tissue in your mouth, dental emergencies can be a real headache. Understanding the signs of an emergency situation and when to seek care can help you avoid unnecessary suffering and save money in the long run.

Common conditions that require immediate treatment include severe toothache, knocked-out teeth, infections and uncontrolled bleeding. Here are some tips for dealing with these situations:

Toothache

Tooth pain can be a sign of bigger dental problems. It’s important to see an emergency dentist right away for advice and treatment.

It’s also important to practice good oral hygiene, including regular brushing and flossing, to prevent issues from getting worse. This can reduce your risk of an emergency visit to the dentist.

Ideally, access to urgent dental care Raleigh NC should be through a national NHS 111 dental triage service. This would allow for patients to be prioritised consistently and assessed in the most suitable clinical setting - either general dental practices, UDC providers or emergency departments (were they available). In addition, the system should have access to the NHS Summary Care Record for checking patient details.

Knocked-Out Teeth

Tooth trauma is a common dental emergency that can lead to cracked, fractured, or knocked-out teeth. These injuries often occur due to sports injuries, falls, or blows to the mouth, and they can be particularly serious for children.

To minimize damage, patients should practice good oral hygiene. They should also see a dentist right away if they experience any of these dental emergencies.

When handling a knocked-out tooth (also called an avulsed tooth), the patient should try to locate it and hold it only by its crown (chewing surface). The root has delicate tissues that are important for reattachment, and touching them can harm them. Rinse the tooth gently and if possible, put it back in its socket. If it is not possible to reposition the tooth, store it in milk or saliva.

Uncontrolled Bleeding

Uncontrolled bleeding that does not stop after several minutes qualifies as a dental emergency. The condition is a severe threat to oral health and may lead to infection or permanent tooth loss. A dentist can identify the source of bleeding, prescribe treatment, and provide medication to reduce clotting time.

While most dental emergencies qualify as true medical concerns, some issues do not warrant immediate care. Severe pain, knocked-out teeth, and uncontrolled bleeding require urgent dental care Raleigh NC but a minor chipped tooth without significant sensitivity can usually wait until regular office hours. Understanding the difference between these care options can help patients avoid unnecessary stress and expense. Emergency dentists are trained to treat dental emergencies quickly and effectively. They can also provide valuable preventive advice to minimize future complications.

Infections

Dental infections should be treated promptly, as they can lead to complications that threaten a patient’s overall health. A dentist will examine the infection, take X-rays and prescribe antibiotics as needed. Patients should follow the full course of antibiotics to prevent resistance and recurrence.

Infections can be caused by either biological or mechanical causes. Biologically mediated infections include those caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. Mechanically mediated infections include tooth fracture, luxation and avulsion.

Patients with severe or complicated dental infections often benefit from a multidisciplinary approach that includes emergency physicians, hospitalists and intensive care specialists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons. Commissioners should implement policies and procedures to support this collaborative model.

Soft-Tissue Injuries

Injuries to the soft tissues of the mouth, including the lips, tongue and inside of cheeks, may cause pain, swelling and bleeding. Injuries to this tissue are a type of dental emergency that requires immediate attention.

Bleeding from soft-tissue injuries usually stops after a few minutes of applying pressure to the injury. But persistent or uncontrolled bleeding can signal a deeper wound that needs immediate attention.

X-rays and CT scans are useful in determining the extent of soft-tissue damage. They help doctors determine if the injury involves ligaments, tendons or muscle. They also can detect subtle fractures in bones. Depending on the extent of the injury, doctors may use stitches or graft new tissue to repair damaged areas. These procedures can improve recovery times and prevent complications.