What is a dental emergency and how do you deal with one?

What is considered a dental emergency?

A dental emergency is a serious and often painful issue involving the teeth, gums, or jaw that requires urgent dental care. Some examples of common dental emergencies include:

• Toothache – Severe and persistent pain in a tooth, often indicating infection or abscess.
• Broken or cracked tooth – A tooth that has been fractured, chipped, or broken exposing nerve endings.
• Knocked out tooth – A tooth that has been completely displaced from the socket due to trauma.
• Abscess – A bacterial infection of the root canal or around the tooth, causing swelling and pain.
• Gum infection – An infection of the gums (gingivitis or periodontitis) that can rapidly worsen without treatment.
• Bleeding – Uncontrolled or severe bleeding from the mouth after an extraction, surgery, or trauma.
• Cellulitis – A spreading bacterial skin infection of the face and mouth, requiring antibiotics.
• Dry socket – Severe pain and nerve exposure after a tooth extraction, requiring emergency care.

These and other urgent issues can occur at any time and need to be treated quickly by a dentist or oral surgeon to prevent lasting damage. If the situation is very severe, hospital emergency room treatment may be required.

When is a dental issue considered an emergency?

Here are some guidelines on when to seek emergency dental treatment:

• Severe tooth or mouth pain – If over-the-counter pain medication and self-care does not help relieve severe discomfort or pain that prevents normal function, such as eating, drinking or sleeping.
• Facial swelling – Any swelling in the mouth, face, gums, or neck, which can indicate a serious infection.
• Bleeding – Heavy bleeding from the mouth or gums that you cannot control or stop within 10 minutes.
• Injury or trauma – Any sort of trauma to the face, mouth or teeth, such as a broken, cracked or displaced tooth, facial laceration or knocked out tooth. This requires urgent dental repair.
• Abscess – Pus leaking from around a tooth, painful swelling, fever, or a pimple-like bump on the gums points to a dental abscess that needs draining.
• Lost fillings or crowns – Emergency care is needed for temporary repairs if a crown or filling comes out until you can see a dentist.
• Chipped teeth – Major chips or fragments broken off teeth qualify as dental emergencies.
• Object stuck in teeth – Seek emergency help for any object or piece of broken tooth stuck between teeth that you cannot remove.

Getting prompt treatment for any of these severe issues can help resolve the problem and prevent it from becoming worse.

What should you do in case of a dental emergency?

If a dental emergency occurs, here are some steps to take:

• Try to stay calm. While a dental emergency can be frightening, panicking will not help the situation.
• If there is bleeding, apply pressure. Use a clean cloth, gauze, or cotton pressed firmly on the area to help stop bleeding from a cut or injured mouth or gums.
• Rinse with warm salt water. Gently rinsing with warm salt water can help soothe pain and keep the area clean if you have a toothache, bleeding, or something stuck between teeth.
• Use dental wax or sugar-free gum. Place wax or chewed sugar-free gum on a broken tooth or sharp edge to protect the nerve.
• Take over-the-counter pain relievers. Anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen can provide temporary relief for symptoms while awaiting dental treatment.
• Call your dentist immediately. Let them know what is happening and that you need an emergency or urgent appointment. Follow any instructions they provide over the phone.
• See your dentist right away. Get an appointment as soon as possible, even if after regular office hours. They can diagnose and properly treat the issue.
• Go to a hospital for trauma. Severe mouth injuries, extensive bleeding, knocked out teeth, or severe swelling indicates a trip to the emergency room is needed.
• Follow up. Schedule follow up care within the time frame recommended by your dentist to fully resolve the dental issue.

Remaining calm and using self-care steps can provide relief until proper dental treatment is obtained. Always call a dentist office first unless going straight to the emergency room is absolutely necessary.

How can you avoid dental emergencies?

While dental emergencies can sometimes come out of nowhere, there are preventative steps you can take to help avoid many issues:

• Brush twice a day and floss daily
• Get regular dental cleanings and checkups every 6 months
• Wear a mouthguard for sports if advised by your dentist
• Wear a nightguard if you grind your teeth
• Quit smoking and limit alcohol and caffeine
• Drink water and limit sugary beverages and acidic foods
• Avoid hard foods that could crack teeth
• Practice good oral hygiene habits at home

Developing good dental care routines reduces your risk for dental problems down the road. Getting small issues taken care of right away prevents them from becoming major emergencies later.

However, accidents and unexpected issues can still arise at any time. Knowing what qualifies as a dental emergency and what steps to quickly take helps ensure you get the urgent care needed to resolve the problem.

What should you do if you have severe tooth pain at night or on the weekend?

Tooth pain often strikes at very inconvenient times outside of regular dentist office hours. Here is what to do if a toothache, dental injury, or other issue occurs at night, on weekends, or during holidays when your dentist is likely closed:

• Take over-the-counter pain medication like ibuprofen to temporarily relieve pain until able to receive dental treatment.
• Rinse the mouth with warm salt water to keep the area clean.
• Use dental wax or chewing gum to protect a chipped or fractured tooth.
• Apply cold compresses on the face to reduce swelling.
• Avoid using heat on swollen gums or teeth, which can worsen inflammation.
• Monitor pain levels and other symptoms closely throughout the night.
• Call an emergency dentist hotline if available in your area for assistance after hours.
• Seek emergency room treatment promptly if pain becomes severe or swelling is extensive.
• Take any prescribed antibiotics as directed for infections.
• Make an appointment with your regular dentist on the next weekday to resolve the underlying issue.

Getting temporary pain relief and monitoring the condition overnight helps in the case of unexpected tooth emergencies occuring outside dental clinic hours. Promptly follow up with emergency dental care if symptoms do not improve or get worse.

What are some tips for handling dental anxiety or fear?

Many people experience high anxiety about undergoing dental treatment. Here are some methods to help manage dental fear:

• Ask your dentist about relaxation techniques prior to a procedure to help you stay calm.
• Learn controlled breathing exercises to use when feeling stressed.
• Request nitrous oxide (laughing gas) sedation if available to relieve anxiety.
• Take oral sedatives prescribed by a dentist to induce relaxation before treatment.
• Use numbing gels and shots for localized pain relief.
• Ask for a mouth prop to be inserted to keep your mouth open if it helps you feel less panicked.
• Listen to soothing music via provided headphones to distract yourself.
• Raise your left hand if you need a temporary break during a procedure.
• Ask someone you trust to accompany you to dental appointments for moral support.
• Consider cognitive behavioral therapy to help overcome phobic responses to triggers.
• Find a dentist experienced with anxious patients who will work with you to make you comfortable.

Proper preparation along with professional techniques to induce relaxation can help manage fear and enable necessary dental work to be performed. Don’t avoid the dentist due to anxiety, as this leads to more severe problems.

What should you do if a tooth gets knocked out?

A knocked out (avulsed) tooth is a serious dental emergency requiring urgent action. Follow these steps if an adult or child’s tooth gets completely knocked or forced out of the socket due to trauma:

• Find the tooth and gently pick it up by the crown (white enamel top part), not the root.
• Rinse off the tooth briefly in water if dirty but do not scrub it excessively.
• Try to place the tooth back into the socket firmly. Have the person bite down to keep it in place if able.
• If unable to reimplant, store it in a container with saliva, milk, or specialized storage solution.
• Keep the tooth moist at all times. Avoid dry surfaces like paper towels or tissues.
• Get dental emergency assistance immediately, even if after hours. Timeliness is critical.
• Call and go directly to your dentist or an emergency oral surgeon right away for evaluation.
• Transport the tooth inside the mouth if possible or with the person rather than separately.

With quick reaction, an avulsed tooth can often be saved through reimplantation and stabilization. Delayed action makes tooth loss highly likely. Preserve the tooth and seek professional emergency help right away for the best prognosis.

What should you do for an object caught between teeth?

Having an object stuck in between teeth is common. Take the following steps if food, dental floss, a toothpick, or another item becomes wedged between teeth and cannot be removed:

• Try to dislodge it by rinsing the mouth vigorously with warm water.
• Attempt to grasp and pull out the object with dental floss, tweezers, or another blunt tool.
• Avoid potentially forcing it deeper and damaging teeth by digging around roughly with sharp objects.
• Do not use a pointed or narrow object that could get lodged deeper between teeth.
• Apply orthodontic wax over the area to relieve discomfort temporarily until it can be removed.
• Take ibuprofen or acetaminophen for pain relief as needed until seen by a dentist.
• Make an emergency dental appointment to have the object professionally removed.
• Only visit an emergency room if you have visible damage to teeth, experience severe pain, or develop swelling.

With an item stuck between teeth, it is usually best to get professional help for safe removal rather than forcing the object and risking potential harm to teeth and gums. See a dentist promptly if you cannot dislodge it on your own.

What are the signs of an abscessed tooth?

An abscessed tooth is a pocket of bacterial infection in the pulp of the tooth or gums, causing swollen and painful symptoms. Signs of a dental abscess include:

• Throbbing or severe tooth pain that is often severe and worsens with time, especially when biting or chewing.
• Tooth sensitivity or pain in response to hot or cold temperatures.
• Fever and chills indicating a spreading infection.
• Red, inflamed gums surrounding the affected tooth.
• Swollen gums or face around the tooth.
• Yellow, foul-smelling pus oozing from the gums around a tooth.
• An open sore or blister on the gums near an infected tooth.
• Loose tooth feeling like it is separating from the gum.
• An elevated, pimple-like bump on the gums near a tooth.
• Bad breath and unpleasant taste in the mouth.

If an abscess is suspected, prompt emergency dental care is required to prevent the infection from spreading deeper through surrounding tissue. Antibiotics and draining of the abscess are typically needed.

When should you suspect a dental abscess versus normal toothache?

Toothaches can range from minor sensitivity to severe infection. Here is how to distinguish a true dental abscess from other tooth pain:

Dental Abscess Symptoms	Regular Toothache Symptoms
Constant, throbbing pain with pulsation.	Intermittent pain that comes and goes.
Severe pain with chewing/biting down.	Mild to moderate pain with temperature changes.
Loose tooth, swollen gum, visible pus.	No swelling, redness confined to one area.
Symptoms persist and worsen over days.	Symptoms fluctuate in duration and intensity.
Fever, nausea, and feeling generally unwell.	No fever or associated flu-like symptoms.
Pain radiates to jaw, neck, or side of face.	Pain localized around a single tooth.

While only a dentist can diagnose for certain, worsening pain with swelling signals a spreading dental abscess that requires prompt emergency dental care for treatment.

What are the causes of dental abscesses?

Dental abscesses develop for several possible reasons:

• Tooth decay – Breakdown of tooth enamel allows bacteria to infect the tooth pulp.
• Cracked tooth – Fissures and fractures allow bacteria to enter and infect the tooth pulp.
• Trauma – Injuries that shift teeth can damage the pulp and cause abscess.
• Failed root canal – Bacteria left behind after a root canal can multiply, infecting the tooth.
• Gum disease – Infection spreads from the gums into the tooth root and tissues.
• Foreign object – Something lodged under the gums pushes bacteria deeper resulting in abscess.
• Poor dental work – Improperly fitted crowns or fillings create gaps near the tooth pulp allowing infection.

Abscesses typically start with infection or damage deep within the tooth that reaches the root and impacts the supporting periodontal tissue. Prompt treatment is key to preventing the infection from spreading further.

How are dental abscesses treated?

Treating a dental abscess involves draining infection and killing bacteria. Typical procedures may include:

• Root canal – The tooth pulp is removed and disinfected deep inside the tooth.
• Tooth extraction – Severely infected teeth may need to be pulled to stop the abscess.
• Incision and drainage – A small cut is made in the gum to allow pus to drain out.
• Scaling – Tartar and infected gum tissue is removed.
• Medications – Antibiotics, pain relievers, and antimicrobial mouthwash.
• Follow up care – Further dental work may be needed to protect the tooth and prevent reinfection.

In some cases where the abscess is extensive, hospitalization for intravenous antibiotics and surgical drainage procedures may be necessary. Follow all dentist recommendations very closely after treatment for an abscessed tooth to fully eliminate the infection and prevent recurrence.

What are home remedies to temporarily relieve toothache pain?

It is best to promptly see your dentist for any persistent tooth pain. But in the interim until a dental appointment can be made, you can try these home remedies to help temporarily alleviate discomfort from a toothache:

• Rinsing with warm salt water several times a day.
• Take over-the-counter pain medication like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
• Apply a cold compress to the outside of your cheek to help reduce swelling.
• Chew sugar-free gum to increase saliva flow and help dislodge food particles.
• Use dental wax or clove oil to coat the sore tooth and reduce irritation.
• Avoid very hot or cold foods and beverages which can aggravate the pain.
• Get plenty of rest to keep stress levels low.

These conservative home treatments may provide some symptom relief until you can have the tooth properly examined and treated by a dental professional. Do not rely on them as a substitute for definitive dental care.

What are the risks of leaving a dental abscess untreated?

It is critical to get prompt treatment for a dental abscess, as the risks of leaving it untreated include:

• Pain and swelling may worsen as the infection continues to spread.
• The infection can spread deeper into jaw bone, gums, and nearby teeth.
• Cysts, fistulas, and scarring can form in the bone around infected teeth.
• You may develop a high fever and feel generally ill as the infection spreads.
• The infection could potentially spread from the tooth to the bloodstream, becoming life-threatening.
• In rare cases, a brain abscess could form from the spread of infection.
• Nearby teeth, tissues, and bone could be damaged if the abscess erodes them.
• Facial cellulitis with extensive facial swelling affecting vision and swallowing.

With their direct connection to the bloodstream, a tooth abscess can quickly progress from a dental issue to a medical emergency. Prompt antibiotics and drainage of infection are required to prevent potentially severe complications.

What are the signs of periodontal disease or gingivitis?

Periodontal disease and gingivitis present with the following signs:

• Red, swollen, or inflamed gums.
• Bleeding from the gums when brushing teeth.
• Persistent bad breath.
• Receding gum line exposing tooth roots.
• Pus discharge around teeth and gums.
• Loose teeth or change in teeth alignment.
• Pain or tenderness of the gums.
• Changes in bite function as teeth shift.
• Tooth sensitivity to hot or cold.
• Pain when chewing food.

Catching gum infection in its mild (gingivitis) or moderate (early periodontitis) stages before extensive tissue and bone damage occurs gives the best chance of treating and reversing the problem through deep cleanings and improved oral hygiene.

What emergency dental costs are typically covered by dental insurance?

Most dental insurance plans cover at least a portion of emergency dental care costs, which may include:

• Tooth extractions – Removing badly damaged or decayed teeth.
• Root canals – $300 to $1500 depending on tooth and complications.
• Crowns – $500 to $3000 for emergency temporary crowns.
• Tooth reimplantation – $2000 or more to reinsert a knocked out tooth.
• Abscess drainage – $70 to $200 for incision and drainage procedure.
• Tooth fillings – Composite resin fillings average $130-$250 per tooth.
• Pain medication – $25 to $50 for emergency prescription pain relief.
• Antibiotics – $15 to $40 for an emergency antibiotic prescription.

Check your policy for deductible, copays, and percentage covered for the above emergency dental treatments. Getting emergency preauthorization helps ensure the insurance claim will be paid.

Conclusion

Dental emergencies like abscesses, knocked out teeth, broken teeth, and gum infections can occur at any time and should be treated promptly by a dentist to avoid lasting damage. Know the signs of common dental emergencies and take action quickly to get the needed treatment before the situation worsens. With rapid care, most dental emergencies can be remedied and permanent harm prevented. Schedule regular dental visits and follow good oral hygiene routines to lower your risk. Educating yourself on dental emergencies before an urgent situation arises helps ensure you will know exactly what to do to get the swift care needed.