This article explores all the various measures one should take in the event of a dental emergency involving chipped, broken, cracked or displaced teeth as well as bleeding from the soft tissue.
The Encinitas Dentist: About Accidental Trauma
There are two things that are a sure bet when it comes to accidents and the Encinitas dentist knows that with accidents: (1) they are never planned and (2) they can cause some pretty nasty damage to your teeth and gums and even the underlying jaw bone. You may have witnessed an accident that involved someone receiving a hockey puck in the mouth, or some kid’s unfortunate dad getting hit in the mouth with the play swing. You yourself may even have a few gruesome stories of your own to tell, which could involve something as serious as a car accident or something as silly as slipping on a banana peel and careening face-first into a Stop sign. Regardless of the cause and the severity of the damage, accidental trauma received to the face and mouth is never pleasant, always painful and deserves the immediate attention of the Encinitas dentist. In order to leave you better informed about handling certain dental emergencies, here is a list of the various things the Encinitas dentist has seen and what you – as the victim, or the victim’s friend/family member/acquaintance – should do about it.
The Things the Encinitas Dentist has Seen
A Chipped Tooth ~ Teeth can quite easily become chipped, especially if you are an adrenalin junkie with a penchant for gobstoppers. If the chip is small and doesn’t hurt, it’s up to you to decide whether you want a cosmetic restoration (porcelain veneer, ceramic crown, etc.) placed by the Encinitas dentist.
A Broken or Cracked Tooth ~ The Encinitas dentist will want to repair a broken or cracked tooth not only because of the pain the exposed nerves in the root and pulp can cause, but because of the risk of infection caused by food and bacteria getting into the vital regions of the tooth. The Encinitas dentist may opt to place a ceramic crown, perform root canal therapy or even extract the tooth if it is damaged beyond repair.
Bleeding ~ Bleeding frequently accompanies any kind of dental trauma, even if you haven’t managed to crack or chip any of your pearly whites. Before you visit the Encinitas dentist, you should rinse your mouth out with warm, salty water to help clean the torn tissue and then apply an ice pack to the region of the cheek directly outside the wound. This will help to slow the bleeding and reduce swelling. If the bleeding does not stop, then go straight to your Encinitas dentist; you may require sutures.
Knocked-out Tooth ~ If a tooth has become completely displaced, then you mustn’t wait even a day to see the Encinitas dentist. Your exposed tooth socket will be very vulnerable to infection and because of the loss of support; the adjacent teeth will become unstable and start to shift. You will probably require a dental implant.
The Encinitas Dentist: Your Golden Rule
As it was previously stated, no matter what the cause of the damage and the severity of it, the golden rule to apply to any dental emergency is to immediately seek the attention of the Encinitas dentist. Only this healthcare professional will be able to properly assess the extent of the damage done and whether any measures need to be taken to prevent more serious problems, such as infection and decay, from developing.