A dental emergency can often feel unsettling or overwhelming, especially if you’re already traveling overseas or away from home for summer vacation. If you experience one during your trip, you’ll want to remain calm and act quickly to address the situation. Read on to learn what you should do if you ever encounter a dental emergency during your summertime fun.
How to Know If You Have a Dental Emergency
Though many conditions or injuries to your teeth can be troubling, not every situation will be considered urgent or require immediate care. However, if you’re experiencing bleeding in the mouth or around your teeth, physical trauma to the face, or pain that is affecting your daily schedule, then you might have a dental emergency. This can also include issues like swollen gums, a lost/broken restoration, a toothache, or a knocked-out tooth, which will need to be treated right away to preserve your oral health.
How Do You Find an Emergency Dentist?
Should you have a dental emergency, you’ll want to call and visit the nearest dentist for help. In many cases, dental professionals allocate a certain amount of time in their schedule for patients who require immediate care. Even if you call when they aren’t open, their voicemail might include specific instructions on how to handle your situation or provide contact information for a local emergency dentist that can help.
If no one is available at the moment, then you should head straight to a local ER. Though they may not be fully equipped to manage dental situations, they can at least alleviate your symptoms and provide antibiotics until you can get treatment from a dentist. For life-threatening issues, like a broken jaw, difficulty swallowing breathing, or uncontrollable bleeding, the emergency room should be your first stop.
Tips for Managing Your Situation
Here are several measures you should take until you can visit your emergency dentist:
- Rinse your mouth with saltwater. Keeping your smile clean will help prevent bacteria from causing problems.
- Minimize any bleeding by applying pressure to the wound with a clean washcloth or gauze. If you can’t control it, go straight to the local ER.
- Take over-the-counter pain medications and/or use a cold compress to reduce swelling.
- Keep any lost restorations or knocked-out teeth safe and bring them to your appointment. Your tooth should be placed in a container of saline solution or milk to keep it moist and viable for reinsertion.
Though dental emergencies can be unsettling, having a plan in place can help make you more confident about the situation. Call the nearest dentist for help and you should regain oral health in no time.
About the Practice
At Cross Creek Dental Care, we want to ensure that you receive the custom, effective, and comfortable treatment necessary to preserve your smile. With advanced dental technology and techniques, you can be sure to get the care you deserve with preventive and emergency dentistry from our dedicated team. If you’d like to schedule a visit before heading out for summer vacation or want to know how to manage an urgent situation, don’t hesitate to visit our website or give us a call at 740-392-6156.