The History of Dentistry

The History of Dentistry

Dental Emergencies: What Qualifies and How to Respond

Regina Carlson

Dental emergencies are not something that many people want to deal with, but they can happen to anyone. They can sometimes be frightening and often occur without warning.

Take a look at two issues that qualify as dental emergencies and how to respond when they occur.

Sudden or Unexplained Toothache

A toothache is one of the most common dental emergencies. It can be caused by several things, from cavities to gum disease. In some cases, a dental abscess might be the reason for severe tooth pain.

Depending on the severity of your tooth pain, it's important to respond quickly and seek dental care as soon as possible. If your toothache is mild, you could take over-the-counter pain medication and wait until your regular dental appointment.

But if you have swelling around your jaw or fever in addition to tooth pain, these could be signs that an infection is present. You should see an emergency dentist as soon as you can to avoid further deterioration. Any slight delay could result in a more complicated and expensive problem.

Once you notice pain inside a tooth, rinse with warm water before you see a dentist. If the pain is severe, you can use a cold compress to help reduce the swelling.

Lost or Broken Tooth

A broken tooth can happen due to trauma, like when you bite down on something hard or fall and hit your face.

If you have a tooth that was knocked out after a traumatic fall, try and retrieve the tooth if possible. But avoid touching the root of the tooth to protect against further accidental damage. Instead, hold it by the crown (the part of the tooth visible in your mouth). The sooner you can get to the dentist, the more likely it is to save the tooth.

However, if you can't find the tooth, don't worry. Your dentist can still offer solutions to replace the missing tooth.

If you break a tooth, rinse your mouth with warm water and apply a cold compress on the outside of your cheek to reduce swelling. Do not use any dental floss or attempt to remove any debris from the broken tooth. Also, don't apply pressure to the tooth so you don't unintentionally aggravate the issue.

If you experience trauma to the face, mouth, or teeth, seek emergency dental care right away. Even if your symptoms seem mild, there may be more serious underlying issues that an untrained eye cannot see.

For more information on emergency dentistry, contact a professional near you.


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About Me
The History of Dentistry

Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved stories about the past. Whether the stories were about horses, wars, exploration or even dentistry, I loved to hear them. I find that knowing the history of something helps it to make sense and feel approachable. I know that some people have dental anxiety, and I too have suffered, but I also feel like the more you know about dental work and its history, the easier it is. This blog is dedicated to exploring the history of dentistry – What did ancient people use for fillings? How did early dentists numb their patients? Who was the first dentist? Those are just some of the questions I plan to answer here. Ready? Okay, let's dive into the history of dentistry together!