subject: What An Emergency Dentist Takes Care Of [print this page] An emergency dentist is similar to an emergency doctor at the ER of a hospital. Accidents, injuries and pain strike at all hours of the day and night. When some problems occur, they demand immediate attention and need to be taken care of right away or they can escalate into something quite serious. Many urgent care DDSs are available round the clock 24/7 to take care of these problems. Here are some of the oral healthcare maladies that are commonly taken care of:
-Chipped tooth: It's important to save any of the chipped off or broken parts. Blood flow can be halted or slowed down by applying pressure to the area with a compress or cloth. It may take approximately ten minutes to get the bleeding to cease. The individual should get to his or her DDS's office as soon as possible.
-Teeth that have been knocked out: A person should be sure to pick up the teeth that have been knocked out. Hold them by the white crown, rinse off with tap H2O and set it back into the space where it was knocked from. If this isn't possible, it should be put in a glass of milk and brought to the emergency dental practitioner. If the DDS is seen within an hour, the tooth may be saved.
-Pain: A toothache can create an intense and throbbing pain. The discomfort often escalates at night. This can be caused by an infection, food lodged between teeth, or wisdom teeth pushing through. Taking ibuprofen orally would be acceptable but one should never apply a painkiller directly to the gums. Get in to see the dentist ASAP.
-Lost filling or crown: If a dental crown falls off or a filling falls out, it may not be an emergency unless the nerve is exposed. If the nerve is exposed, the pain may be excruciating. It's crucial to take the fallen crown along to the dentist and not try to fix it yourself. Some patients have actually tried to re-cement their device with Superglue and created a much worse problem.
-Severe infection or abscess: Abscesses and infections can be dangerous if not treated promptly. Not only do these conditions manifest in the oral regions, but can spread throughout the body's systems and even into the brain.
-Reasons for maladies: There are multiple reasons why emergencies occur. Some examples are untreated dental and gum decay that escalate over time, being in an automobile accident, being punched in the mouth and getting injured in a sporting activity. Hockey pucks and sticks, baseballs and bats, skateboard mishaps, tennis balls and racquets as well as many other kinds of athletic equipment often make contact with mouths and cause problems. Protective mouth guard should be worn whenever possible.
The emergency dentist is not one that patients typically go to for their regular checkups, cleanings or having their cavities filled. Instead, this oral healthcare practitioner is available to treat accidental mishaps or infections that flare up suddenly.
