Four Facts About Emergency Dentistry to Know About

Sometimes, no matter how meticulous you are, you can experience a dental emergency. Because it is impossible to predict when a dental emergency can occur, it is crucial to have an emergency dentist who you can call on a short-moment notice. Fortunately, at Ryan K Dentistry, we offer emergency dentistry services in Vernon that you can access easily.

While we strive to save your teeth and preserve your dental structure, how you handle your teeth before you come for treatment will determine the course of treatment, and if your teeth can be saved. Here are four facts you need to know about emergency dentistry.

1. Differentiating Between Urgent and Non-Urgent Dental Emergencies is Crucial

While anything that causes injuries and bruises to your teeth can be termed as an emergency, not all require urgent treatment. Some can be handled at home as you wait for your next appointment.

However, we have dental accidents that can affect not only your dental health but overall wellness as well. These are what we refer to as urgent dental emergencies.

A dental emergency, as mentioned above, is any bruising that affects the soft tissues, teeth, and gums. Some of the emergencies cause pain, and others do not.

• Urgent dental emergencies

These emergencies need immediate dental treatment, and failure to address them on time will have dire consequences.

• Knocked teeth
• Teeth abscess
• Broken and fractured teeth
• Soft tissue injuries
• Severe dental pain. It is worth noting that toothache can be idiopathic, and it clears after some time. However, if you have severe tooth pain and you cannot eat or move your jaw, then it is time to visit our dentist in Vernon.

• Non-urgent dental emergencies 

These are dental accidents that can be handled with home remedies as you wait for your next appointment. These include:

• Broken or loosened dental restorations. While these accidents do not need immediate treatment, they can cause sensitivity at times. If you experience mild tooth sensitivity on the teeth underneath, visit the dentist for assistance.
• Dull toothache
• Food stuck in between the teeth. The food particles can cause mild bruising, especially on children, but this is something that dental flossing can sort.

Even with these non-urgent dental emergencies, you still need to visit the dentist, so make an appointment at your earliest convenience.

2. How Long You Take to Visit the Dentist Matters 

Although it is said to visit the dentist immediately, the duration of the time you take to come to the dental clinic matters a lot, especially for dental emergencies like knocked teeth. When your teeth get dislodged, it is crucial to visit the dentist immediately. Your teeth can be easily saved if you get treatment within 45 minutes of the accident. Remember, when the teeth get knocked out, they detach for the soft tissues and nerves that nourish them.

3. First Aid May Save Your Teeth 

How you handle your teeth and gums after an accident occurs will detect if your teeth can be saved or not.

• If your teeth are partially knocked out, try to push them back to the socket by the crown. For completely dislodged teeth, preserve them in milk.
• Rinse the mouth with warm water to get rid of any debris. For abscessed teeth, use warm salty water instead.
• If there is bleeding, bite a gauze pad or a teabag to slow it down.
• Apply an ice pack on the affected area to prevent swelling.
• Do not take pain medications unless advised by the dentist, because some can make the bleeding worse.

Visit the dentist within the first hour of the dental accident.

4. Protect Your Teeth 

While it is impossible to prevent a dental emergency, some ways can help reduce the pain, protect and strengthen the teeth.

• Maintain proper dental hygiene by brushing, flossing, and rinsing the mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash.
• Get fluoride treatment to strengthen the enamel and prevent cavities.
• Wear mouthguards when playing sports to shield your teeth from direct impact.

Finally, visit Dr. Ryan Kilistoff for routine dental checkups and cleanings.