Dental Emergencies
Tooth emergencies occur for a variety of reasons. Fortunately, you can prevent most of them by brushing your teeth twice a day and visiting your dentist for regular checkups.
While dental emergencies can be prevented with preventative care, it’s also important to know where to turn for emergency dentistry in sioux falls sd.
Broken or Dislodged Fillings or Crowns
Dental fillings and crowns are made with durable, cutting-edge materials, but they can still break or become dislodged. This is a urgent care dental sioux falls sd and should be addressed as soon as possible to avoid infection beneath the gum line or even a dental abscess. Until you can get to a dentist, try not to eat anything that requires lots of chewing. Rinse your mouth with warm salt water and use over the counter pain relievers like ibuprofen to manage any sensitivity.
If you are able to find the lost filling or crown, save it and store it in a small container. This will prevent accidental swallowing or inhalation, which could lead to digestive and respiratory problems. Also, a dentist can use the retrieved crown as a reference when fabricating a new one. This can save you time and money on costly replacements in the future. Proper brushing and flossing along with regular visits to your dentist will lower your risk of dental emergencies.
Infections Under the Gum Line
The soft tissues of the mouth are delicate and can become infected just like any other part of the body. If left untreated, gum infections can lead to tooth loss and other health issues. Painful swelling filled with pus is a sign of an abscessed tooth or gum disease. Infected teeth require immediate care to reduce the risk of further damage.
The emergency dentist will drain the pus, relieve pain and pressure, and prescribe antibiotics. They may also provide a temporary filling or crown.
Infections can be prevented by maintaining good oral hygiene, including brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and getting regular dental checkups. It is also important to wear a mouthguard during sports or physical activities, and not use your teeth as tools to open packages or bottles. It is also a good idea to eat a healthy diet and avoid sugary foods that can cause cavities. A dental exam can catch problems early, such as decay or a chipped tooth, and prevent serious emergencies down the road.
Toothaches
Often, toothaches are the first sign of an underlying urgent care dental sioux falls sd problem. The sooner an emergency dentist is called, the lower the risk of permanent damage and the cost of treatment. Brushing twice a day, flossing, and avoiding sugary foods are essential to preventing decay and infection. Children should wear mouthguards when playing sports to reduce injuries to the teeth and jaw.
Our emergency dentists in Sioux Falls can address many tooth emergencies, including severe toothaches, knocked out teeth, broken or chipped teeth, abscesses, and lost or dislodged fillings or crowns. In cases of abscesses, patients should rinse their mouth with salt water to help draw out pus and relieve pain, while taking over-the-counter pain relievers as needed.
If a tooth is knocked out, it is important to try to reinsert the tooth into its socket if possible, holding it by the crown and not the root. In some cases, a root canal may be necessary to save the tooth and alleviate pain.
Broken or Chipped Teeth
Whether from biting down on an ice cube, falling on your tooth or chewing too hard on other foods, your teeth can crack or chip. These chips range in severity from purely cosmetic to exposing the inner pulp of the tooth. If you experience a chip, contact your dentist immediately.
Depending on how much of the tooth is chipped, your dentist may repair it in one office visit or it might require more extensive treatment. If the chipped tooth is in a visible location (front tooth), your dentist will probably use a procedure called bonding, which involves applying and molding putty to the damaged area and using ultraviolet light to harden it.
If the break exposes a nerve, you might need root canal therapy. Symptoms of this type of damage include pain when chewing or when eating hot or cold foods. You should apply pressure to stop bleeding, rinse your mouth and take over-the-counter pain relievers until you see your dentist.
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