We have a tendency to think that anything that causes mouth pain is an emergency, and for good reason. Mouth pain can be one of the most miserable types of pain if not treated quickly and appropriately. There are a few things that are ALWAYS designated as dental emergencies, though, since they can cause risk of infection, loss of an entire permanent tooth, or worse. For a dental emergency, you want to immediately call your Catonsville Dentist to avoid some miserable repercussions. So, what exactly does constitute a “dental emergency?”
- Loss of a tooth – If you have a tooth knocked out or fall out, there are a few things that you need to do before going to see your Catonsville dentist. You should always hold your tooth by the crown and not the root. If you can put the tooth back in your mouth, it is advisable since it’ll prevent the tooth from drying out. Otherwise, try putting the tooth in milk. Call your dentist immediately and try to get in within an hour to save the tooth.
- Lost filling – Fillings do a pretty good job of taking care of cavities, but occasionally they fall out. There are a few things that you can do if you lose a filling. You can try putting a small piece of sugar free gum (preferably the kind that uses xylitol as a sweetener) in the cavity, or you can buy over the counter dental cement. You should call and make an emergency appointment ASAP.
- Abscess – An abscess will feel a lot like a pimple on your gum and will likely be very painful. It’ll probably be fairly unpleasant, but you need to bring as much as the infection out as you can as soon as you notice the abscess. Try to bring it out of the sore and then use saltwater to rinse and wash it out of your mouth. Because abscesses are infections, they can cause further health problems for the whole body. Take care to treat abscesses as soon as you notice them.
These are just a few types of dental emergencies. If you chip, break, or otherwise damage a tooth, you should make a point to see your Catonsville dentist immediately. For problems like cavity and mouth pain, make an appointment as close as possible, but don’t stress over making an emergency appointment. If you have any questions about emergency dentistry in Catonsville, or wish to schedule an appointment, please contact Leikin & Baylin Dental Care of Catonsville, Maryland by calling 410-747-1115 or visit CatonsvilleDentalCare.com.
Source: http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/handling-dental-emergencies