A dental emergency is any problem with your teeth, gums or mouth that requires urgent dental treatment. Here, our Calgary dentists describe some situations that are considered dental emergencies.
Severe Tooth Pain
Toothache pain that cannot be managed with over-the-counter pain medication is considered a dental emergency. If you have a bad toothache, apply ice to the area, and get to your dentist's office as soon you can.
Chipped or Broken Tooth
In most cases, broken or chipped teeth can be repaired, but they require urgent dental care to do so. Your dentist may be able to fix a minor chip or break with a filling. More serious breaks may require a root canal or a crown.
Knocked Out Tooth
Your dentist may be able to replace a knocked out tooth if you act quickly. If we can put the tooth back in place within an hour, there is a good chance that it will take root again. After the two hour mark, the chances are significantly reduced.
Bitten Lip or Tongue
If you bite your lip or tongue and can't quell the bleeding, this is an emergency. Use a clean cloth to press down on the part of the mouth that is bleeding, and apply an icepack to reduce any swelling. Be sure to get immediate dental care.
Object Lodged Between Teeth
If there is an object lodged between your teeth that you cannot remove with dental floss, you should go see your dentist to have it removed. Do not try to remove it yourself with with a sharp object, because this may push it further between your teeth, or you could injure your gums.
Lost filling
When you lose a filling, it exposes the interior of your tooth and weakens its structure. For these reasons, it's important to get the tooth fixed as soon as possible. To protect the area in the meantime, put a piece of softened sugarless gum in the spot where the filling was.