Dental emergencies require prompt attention to alleviate pain, prevent complications, and preserve oral well-being. Recognizing these emergencies, as well as their etiologies and sequelae, will enable healthcare professionals to treat them effectively. If you experience a Dental emergency, contact your dentist immediately to schedule an emergency appointment. If the office is closed, visit an urgent care facility or emergency room.

1. Knocked Out Tooth

A knocked out tooth is one of the most serious dental emergencies. If it’s a permanent tooth, rather than just a baby tooth, it may be able to be repositioned and saved with prompt attention.

The key to saving a knocked out tooth is to find the tooth and pick it up by the crown (chewing surface) and not the root. Then, rinse it quickly with cold water or clean bottled water to remove any dirt and reduce pain. Do not use soap or scrape the tooth.

Try to put the tooth back into its socket within an hour, as this will give it the best chance for survival. If you can’t reinsert the tooth, call your dentist for an emergency appointment and get to the dentist as soon as possible. Your dentist may be able to reposition the tooth and hold it in place with a splint. If not, your dentist will discuss tooth replacement options with you.

2. Broken Tooth

A broken tooth is a dental emergency because it could impact the function of your teeth and oral health. It must be addressed with immediate treatment to alleviate pain and avoid complications.

Whether it is due to trauma or biting down on something hard, a broken tooth requires a visit to your dentist. It is important to be aware of the dangers of breaking a tooth and take precautions to prevent it such as avoiding hard and crunchy foods, wearing sports mouth guards, and being careful during sports.

Another type of dental emergency is a dental abscess which is a pocket of pus in your tooth that can cause infection in the mouth or throat. Symptoms of an abscessed tooth can include sensitivity to hot and cold, bumps on the gums, and a fever. Visiting your dentist for treatment is critical as it can help save the tooth, relieve pain, and stop bleeding. It is also a good idea to brush and floss your teeth regularly to avoid cavities and gum disease.

3. Toothache

A toothache is a dental emergency and should never be ignored. Pain in the tooth is a sign that there is an issue with your pulp (the nerves and soft tissue inside your tooth). Toothaches are typically accompanied by pain when eating or drinking hot or cold, tender lymph nodes in your neck, swollen face or gums and bumps on your gums near the affected area.

However, not every dental problem is considered a dental emergency. For example, a chipped tooth or tooth decay are not necessarily emergencies and may be treated with regular dental visits and first aid care at home. The same is true for dental restorations that break, which can also be repaired with a dental filling or crown.

4. Infection

Dental infections can be life-threatening if not promptly diagnosed and managed. Untreated bacterial infections of the oral cavity can result in painful, diffuse brawny swelling of the neck and face (cellulitis), opportunistic infection in the deep space surrounding the mouth and sinuses, or airway compromise in severe cases.

Infections of the gum tissue and the roots of the teeth can also be serious. An abscess, a pimple-like area of swollen tissue near the root or between teeth, is very serious and requires immediate attention. If left untreated, an abscess can destroy gum tissue and surrounding teeth, resulting in damage to the entire mouth and even the rest of the body.

Managing patients with dental emergencies requires the interprofessional team to include emergency physicians, hospitalists, intensivists, dentists, oral surgeons, and nurses. Recognition of the etiology of the patient’s problem, prompt intervention, and timely referral for definitive treatment is vital to alleviating pain, preventing complications, and improving outcomes.