Norwood Dental

Emergency Dentist

Who Is An Emergency Dentist?

An emergency dentist is a dental professional that is open to providing dental services outside of business hours and during the holidays. Not all dentists oversee dental emergencies and might refer you to a colleague should you find yourself in such a position.

The entire concept of an emergency is that it can happen without a moment’s notice – which is why you must be aware of a professional who takes on dental emergency cases.

What Are All The Cases That Come Under Emergency Dentistry?

Not all situations require emergency dental care. Often, what might seem critical isn’t and you can wait a day or two before you visit your dentist. However, you should understand what does count as a dental emergency. Listed below are some of the most common cases that come under emergency dentistry.

Unbearable Toothache

When your tooth hurts, it usually is a sign that something is wrong. Your body is sending you the signal that you probably should take it seriously. But if the toothache is so severe that it is affecting your everyday functioning, it’s time to call the emergency dentist.

Toothaches can occur due to numerous reasons – and it is best to have your dentist check it out as soon as possible.

Bleeding or Swollen Gums

Irritated gums aren’t always an emergency. However, if your gums are constantly bleeding and there is pain accompanied by swelling, there’s a good chance that something is wrong. Your gums do not bleed without reason – so pick up your phone and call the emergency dentist.

If you are bleeding from anywhere in the mouth and it cannot be controlled, rush to the dentist as soon as possible.

Swelling In The Mouth Or Jaw

If you experience sudden inflammation inside your mouth or outside, call your emergency dentist stat. Swellings are indicative of an infection, lymph node irritation, or something serious.

Knocked-Out Tooth

While it’s understandably shocking when your tooth is knocked out of your mouth due to sudden impact – but keep your wits about. The American Association of Endodontics states that if you take swift action once you lose a tooth, your dentist will be able to reinsert your tooth and save it.

Dislodged Filling

It isn’t uncommon to lose a filling. And while not exactly an emergency, one should not delay professional care should this happen. A missing filling leads the way for exacerbated infection, severe pain, and even damage to the tooth! A tooth that has lost a filling loses its structural strength and can easily chip or break.

Visit your emergency dentist before things take a turn for the worst.

Broken Crown

Similar to a dislodged filling, a broken or dislodged crown isn’t exactly a dental emergency. However, losing a crown does have its downsides – pain, infection, and damage to the tooth. Store the restoration safely and take it to your dentist as early as you can. They’ll either try to reposition it or fit you with a new one.

Tooth Abscess

Of all the situations requiring emergency dentistry services, a tooth abscess is the most life-threatening one. A tooth abscess occurs when a pocket of pus leads to an exacerbated infection. It can cause fever, severe toothache, tender lymph nodes in the neck, facial swelling, tooth sensitivity, and a bump that looks like a pimple on the gums near the affected tooth.

The reason why this is potentially life-threatening is that the infection can spread to the surrounding tissue, the jaw, and other areas in the body. Don’t delay treatment if you notice any of the above symptoms.

Points To Remember In Case Of A Dental Emergency?

The important thing to remember when caught in the middle of a dental emergency is that you must stay calm – do not panic. Assess the situation, try to control it, and call your emergency dentist. Here are some points that you should remember when in an emergency – 

In Case Of A Toothache

Take an over-the-counter painkiller to help relieve the pain. You can also apply a cold compress to relieve the toothache. If you feel like the pain is still intolerable after taking the painkiller, call your dentist.

In Case Of Uncontrolled Bleeding

Apply pressure to the bleeding site and call your dentist. Make sure you apply firm pressure and don’t constantly remove the towel/cloth to reassess the bleeding.

In Case Of A Swelling/Abscess

Perform warm saline rinses if you’re experiencing inflammation or infection. Add a tablespoon of salt to a glass of warm water and rinse. This helps alleviate the swelling and draw the infection to the surface.

In Case Of A Tooth That Has Been Knocked Out

If you lose your tooth, pick it up from the crown end. Don’t touch the root since it could damage the tooth. Hold it under running water without scrubbing it. Dunk it in a glass of clean water or milk. Call your emergency dentist. With a knocked-out tooth, time is of the essence.

How Do I Find A Dentist Near Me In A Dental Emergency?

If you don’t have a dentist that you visit or they don’t take emergency visits, you can Google “emergency dentist near me” to find the ones closest to you. But in case you’re too flustered to do that, you can also visit the nearest emergency room. They will administer any first aid that you require, control the situation (especially in a case of trauma), and contact a dentist for you.

If you live in and around Norwood, Minneapolis, Norwood Dental is the office you should call for emergency dental services. We offer same-day emergency services and we’re always looking out for our patients – old and new alike.

It’s okay if you are unsure about your situation – drop a visit anyway. We’ll get you fixed up and on the mend in no time. Call us at (952) 467-3518 to schedule an appointment with our dentists. You can also schedule a consult by requesting an appointment here.