South Kansas City Emergency Dental
816-601-1817
The 7 Most Common Dental Emergencies
Tooth Trauma
Injury to a tooth or the entire jaw is classified as a tooth trauma. Trauma to a tooth may result in it being loosened (increased mobility) or knocked from its normal position. If you experience tooth trauma it is important to contact your dentist immediately. Do not delay treatment! If your dentist’s office is closed or unable to give you an appointment in a reasonable amount of time, call us at South Kansas City Emergency Dental. Dr. Robert Davis, our emergency dentist, will generally be able to examine your mouth within 12-24 hours.
Toothache
In general, pain is our body’s way of telling us something is wrong within our body. Severe tooth pain generally should not be ignored because it can be a sign of an infection or even a worse condition. Sometimes, depending on what exactly is wrong with the painful tooth, rinsing the mouth with either cold or warm water can provide some temporary pain relief. In other instances cold or warm water can make the pain worse. Until you can be seen at Emergency Dental of South Kansas City, taking over the counter anti-inflammatory and pain medication such as Ibuprofen (Advil) is your best option to treat the tooth pain.
All too often emergency dentists encounter patients who have lost a tooth due to some sort of accident or other trauma to the face and mouth. If you have a permanent tooth knocked-out, time is of the essence. It is possible the tooth can be replaced into the mouth but only if the reimplantation is completed within a couple hours. If the tooth falls on the ground and has debris on it, very gently rinse the tooth in saline or milk to remove any visible debris or blood. If saline or milk is not immediately available, place the tooth in a small container filled with the patient’s saliva and then schedule an appointment with an emergency dentist.
Broken Orthodontic Braces
Most kids with braces have dealt with debonded brackets and pokey wires scrapping your gums, cheeks or tongue creating sores. At Emgency Dental of South Kansas City, we can repair your issue with your braces to provide some relief until you are able to see your orthodontist. As a home remedy, you can try covering the wire end with a piece of gauze, a small cotton ball or wax.
An infected tooth is characterized by redness, swelling, pain and possibly pus (exudate). An infection should be treated immediately by extracting the tooth, performing a root canal or at a minimum by prescribing antibiotics. An small infection in the mouth, associated with either a tooth or periodontal disease can quickly become a big problem by spreading to other parts of the head and neck. Some tooth infections can lead to severe medical conditions such as a brain abscess or an infection blocking the airway. If you believe you have an infection make an appointment with your dentist or at Emergency Dental of South Kansas City.
Cracked Tooth
In general, pain is our body’s way of telling us something is wrong with our bodies. Severe tooth pain generally should not be ignored because it can be a sign of an infection or even a worse condition. Sometimes, depending on what exactly is wrong with the painful tooth, rinsing the mouth with either cold or warm water can provide some temporary pain relief. In other instances cold or warm water can make the pain worse. Until you can be seen at Emergency Dental of South Kansas City, taking over the counter anti-inflammatory and pain medication such as Ibuprofen (Advil) is your best option to treat the tooth pain.
Lost Filings & Crowns
A lost crown or filling can often be indicative of a more serious problem such as tooth decay under where the restoration was. An emergency dentist will be able to tell you what treatment is needed to fix the cracked tooth and can often perform that treatment on the same day to relieve the problem.