Roughly 2 million people visit hospital emergency departments in the U.S. annually for dental emergencies. What could be a low-cost same-day dental visit averages over $700 for an urgent hospital visit. When a dental emergency occurs you need to get to a dental office as quickly as possible.
What Is A Dental Emergency?
There are many things that constitute a dental emergency. Below is a list of common emergencies we see in our office at Premier Dental Center San Antonio, but if you are experiencing pain, discomfort, or bleeding from something not on this list – please call us right away so we can advise you whether or not it is a dental visit or emergency room trip.
- Lost tooth.
- Abscess tooth (a bump on gums with a white surface, fever, tender lymph nodes, toothache).
- Severe toothache.
- Lost crown or filling.
- Sensitivity to cold, heat, pressure, or air.
- Swollen jaw or mouth.
- Tender to touch, sore gums, bleeding.
- Severe pain or bleeding.
- Swollen gums, bleeding gums.
- Cracked, chipped, or fractured tooth.
- Sore teeth, exposed nerves.
- Food or object lodged in teeth causing pain or sensitivity.
If you are experiencing the above symptoms, extreme pain, discomfort, or excessive bleeding do not tough it out. Call us immediately.
No one prepares for or expects a dental emergency. These situations can be painful and cause anxiety. Until you see our dentist, we have some recommendations for how to stay calm and keep the pain at bay until we can examine and treat you.
Treating a Dental Emergency
- Lost tooth. Pick up the tooth without touching the root, rinse gently without scrubbing, and reinsert the tooth, if you are unable to reinsert then place the tooth between cheek and jaw, in milk, or in water with a pinch of salt until your appointment.
- Abscess tooth. Rinse your mouth with a mild water solution, and apply a cold compress to swollen area externally.
- Severe toothache. Floss gently to remove any food caught between teeth. Rinse your mouth with warm water and a pinch of salt, and apply a cold compress to the impacted area externally.
- Lost crown or filling. Save crown or filling, if possible, store crown or filling in an air-tight zip-top bag. Fill the gap with sugarless gum. Do not attempt to reinsert the filling or apply the crown.
- Swollen jaw or mouth. Apply cold compress externally to swollen or sore areas.
- Severe pain or bleeding. Gently rinse your mouth with warm water and a pinch of salt. Apply gauze to the area of bleeding. Apply cold compress externally.
- Cracked, chipped, or fractured tooth. Immediately rinse your mouth with warm water and a pinch of salt. Apply gauze to the area of bleeding. Apply cold compress externally.
- Food or object lodged in teeth. Floss gently to remove any food caught between teeth. Rinse your mouth with warm water and a pinch of salt, and apply a cold compress to the impacted area if necessary.
Trust Us to Put You Back Together
While we encourage anyone suffering from a dental emergency to visit our clinic, we also offer many dental services to keep your teeth and gums healthy. These regular appointments can prevent dental emergencies from happening – saving you time, pain, and money. Schedule an appointment at Premier Dental Center San Antonio today.