Unfortunately, dental emergencies can and do happen. These emergencies may take the form of a playground accident, a horrible toothache or an unexpected popcorn kernel causing a fracture. It is always best to contact your dentist as soon as you have a problem. Most unexpected dental problems will only get worse as time goes on.
A severe fracture, as may occur with an accident, is best evaluated immediately. If there is bleeding, pain or teeth have been knocked out contact your dentist immediately. If it is after office hours and they can not be reached you should plan to go to the emergency room or another dentist. Make sure to keep any teeth that have come out clean and moist by either putting them back in place without touching the root, placing it between your cheek and gums or in a bit of milk.
A less serious fracture, that may occur when biting on a hard substance, may or may not result in pain. However, these fractures should also be addressed in a timely manner. Quite often, teeth that are fractured from eating may have already been weakened by underlying decay or large restorations. Ignoring these problems will most likely result in the decay progressing and necessitating a root canal or extraction. Your dentist will most likely take an x-ray and plan to restore the tooth with a filling or crown if indicated. However, if the nerve is involved, further treatment may be needed.
If you do not break a tooth or have a particular “incident” but find yourself with a horrible toothache or swelling, there may be an infection that will need to be treated to get you out of pain and restore you to health. Your dentist will identify the problem and discuss the best course of treatment.
As always, make sure to do everything you can to prevent these unexpected problems. This includes wearing mouth guards when playing contact sports, seeing your dentist regularly and completing any recommended treatment. Avoid biting on hard substances like ice and hard candies. Also, do not use your teeth as tools to open packages and avoid bad habits like chewing on fingernails or pens. Healthy teeth should be able to handle healthy foods like nuts and meat. However, even the strongest of teeth can be fractured by a jawbreaker candy or a plastic package. Taking care of your teeth is always the best way to avoid problems.
