Types of Dental Emergencies

  • Blog >
  • Types of Dental Emergencies
RSS Feed

Types of Dental Emergencies

It's important to know what to do when you're faced with a dental emergency. Dr. Mark Gamalinda, your Chicago, IL emergency dentist, shares a few tips on handling dental emergencies.

Blows to the mouth

Blows to the mouth can knock out, loosen or break teeth, or cut your face or mouth. If you experience any of these problems, follow these guidelines:

  • Knocked Out Teeth: If it's possible, you can try to place the tooth back in the socket after you rinse it with water. If you can't easily place the tooth back, it's important to kee the tooth moist. You can place it in a small sealed container filled with milk or your saliva. You'll want to visit your Chicago emergency dentist as soon as possible, as reimplantation of the tooth is most likely to be successful if you receive dental treatment within an hour.
  • Loose Tooth: If your loose tooth has moved out of position, avoid chewing on the tooth or putting pressure on it until you're able to see Dr. Gamalinda.
  • Broken or cracked tooth: Broken or cracked teeth can be very painful, plus those jagged edges can tear your cheeks or lips. Use over-the-counter medications to decrease the pain and a cold compress to reduce swelling. Visit your dentist as soon as you can.

Dental abscesses

Blows to the mouth aren't the only cause of dental emergencies. An abscess caused by an infection in the pulp at the center of your tooth can threaten the health of your tooth if you don't receive prompt treatment. An infection in your tooth can cause pain. A root canal treatment may be needed to stop the infection and eliminate your pain. If you are dealing with severe tooth pain, it's important that you visit your dentist as soon as possible.

If you experience any of these emergencies, contact Dr. Gamalinda, your Chicago, IL emergency dentist immediately. Call (773) 334-1801 to schedule your appointment.