Are you prepared for a dental emergency? Most people never are because of the perception that it can never happen to them. Unfortunately, dental emergencies have a nasty habit of occurring when they are least expected and can leave you running around like a headless chicken when you are confronted with one. Rather than leave yourselves waiting for the unexpected wouldn’t it be better for you to prepare for a dental emergency ahead of time?
Dental emergencies of different types can occur even in Chicago just like any other place leaving you anxious and wondering whether the problem confronting you can wait for your regular dentist to see you or should you be visiting the emergency Dentist in Wicker Park. It is for this reason that you should be prepared for a dental emergency and have a small dental kit that can help you to manage the emergency.
What Is a Dental Emergency?
A knocked-out tooth, loose tooth, chipped, cracked, fractured tooth or injuries to the soft tissue of your mouth can all be considered as dental emergencies.
If you have a knocked-out tooth it will require urgent attention. If the appropriate steps are followed soon after the tooth is knocked out the chances of it being reinserted into the socket and preserved by a dentist remain high. You must, however, reach the dentists’ office within 30 minutes with the tooth by picking it up, holding the crown and avoiding contact with the roots. You can rinse the tooth to make sure it is clean and also attempt to place it back into its socket if possible. If you are unable to do so you can place it in milk before calling your dentist immediately for the treatment.
A severe fracture on your tooth will be extreme exposing you to the risk of losing the tooth. If you suffer a severe fracture you should contact your dentist immediately or even an emergency dentist because you may need to undergo emergency tooth extraction in Chicago to avoid the inconvenience of a painful tooth. Before reaching the dentist you can clean your mouth by gently rinsing it with water and taking acetaminophen to alleviate the pain. The emergency dentist you visit will take an x-ray to properly diagnose the condition of the tooth before determining actions to be taken to provide you relief from the anxiety.
Is the Problem Affecting You a Dental Emergency?
Many dental problems cannot be considered emergencies because they can wait for your regular dentist to provide the treatment. You should attempt to understand whether you are in severe pain or are bleeding from the mouth? Is your face swelling up or have you been hit in the face? In these situations, you may have a dental emergency that needs attention from an emergency dentist. However, if it is just a chipped or cracked tooth that is not causing any pain you can rest assured it can wait for your regular dentist to see you during normal working hours. Re-cementing a crown, smoothing a chipped tooth that is not painful and repairing a tooth with composite bonding cannot be considered as a dental emergency. Therefore the need to rush to an emergency dentist or an emergency room at a hospital does not arise. Understanding what constitutes an emergency and what doesn’t will leave you better prepared to deal with the situation.
Avoiding Dental Emergencies
Avoiding dental emergencies is not difficult if you ensure you undergo routine checkups with your dentist to make sure your mouth and teeth are healthy, strong and free from decay. If you are involved in sporting activities it is suggested that you wear a mouthguard to prevent your teeth from being knocked out, chipped, or broken. Stay away from chewing on ice or other hard foods that can potentially break or fracture your teeth. If you are planning to travel out of the country it would make sense to visit your dentist for a routine checkup before you leave. You must understand you may not have access to dental care in a foreign location and be prepared for any eventuality. Your dentist can check whether you have any loose crowns or teeth, decay nearby a nerve of a tooth that may cause pain or develop an abscess that can easily be fixed rather than wait for it to become a dental emergency letter on.
Preparing for a Dental Emergency Is Better Than Waiting for One to Occur
Dental emergencies can happen at any time and place and the best thing to do is to be prepared for the same. You can keep a small dental first-aid kit containing the necessities that will prove helpful in a dental emergency and prevent you from suffering from the anxiety that will accompany the problem.