Emergency Dental Care

Few things inspire as much panic as a mouth injury, and a dental emergency can occur at any time to anyone. Car accidents, accidental falls and slips, and sporting injuries are just a few situations that can require immediate dental treatment. However, the most important thing to remember about serious mouth injuries is they often look worse than they actually are. Oral injuries can be extremely painful due to the high number of sensitive tissues concentrated in the mouth, and the thin tissues that comprise the gums and palate can bleed rather easily.

The most common type of dental emergencies for children and adults alike is the loss of a tooth due to acute or chronic trauma. If you have a dental emergency related to a lost tooth, make sure to handle the tooth very carefully, as touching and harming the fragile root can make reattachment very difficult. If the tooth is clean, you can place it very delicately in the socket and apply gentle pressure. Do not clean off the tooth with water - make sure to use milk instead.

If you have lost a tooth it's important to seek treatment as soon as possible. Fortunately, emergency oral care can prevent serious long term consequences and by seeking medical treatment within the first half hour, there is an 85% chance the tooth will survive. It is important to get to a dentist or other emergency health professional as quickly as possible, for the sooner you receive medical attention the better your prognosis. Remember your teeth are made of some of the strongest materials in the body and can take a great deal of punishment. If you are suffering from a dental emergency, keep calm, take stock of your situation, and get to a dental professional immediately.