Dental Emergencies: What to Do During Covid-19

We all like having our nice, neat schedules and routines. Unfortunately, dental emergencies such as a broken tooth or tooth pain are never planned and do not happen on a schedule. What do you do when tooth pain strikes or when you chip a tooth? 

When the unexpected happens, it is important to contact your dentist. Genesis Family Dentistry handles dental emergencies for patients in Uptown Charlotte. Even amid Covid-19, it is important not to let dental trauma or pain go untreated as problems could become more severe.

What is a Dental Emergency?

Even with the best intentions and care, injuries or problems can occur. Whether you get bumped in the mouth playing sports or chip a tooth biting into a hard food, trauma can strike when you least expect it. An emergency dentist can assess and treat your condition.

Dental Emergencies Explained

According to the American Dental Association, dental emergencies are potentially life-threatening events that require immediate care to treat bleeding, alleviate pain, or manage infections. These issues commonly require a trip to the ER and may include uncontrolled bleeding, cellulitis, swelling around the airway, or trauma to the facial bones. 

However, urgent dental care focuses on managing conditions that need immediate care but can be handled outside of an emergency room. This may include pain, dental abscess, dental trauma, or a lost or broken restoration.

Tooth Pain

Tooth pain is often the first noticeable sign of a dental problem. Tooth pain may be due to an infection, abscessed tooth, or severe decay. Additional signs of an infection include throbbing pain throughout the jaw and neck, facial or neck swelling, and fever. 

Dental Abscess

A tooth abscess involves an infection of the face, mouth, jaw, or throat. It is commonly caused by severe tooth decay, gingivitis or gum disease, or trauma to the tooth. Symptoms include pain, swelling, facial redness, a bad taste in the mouth, and sensitivity to hot or cold foods or liquids.

Dental Injury

Traumatic dental injuries may be the result of an accident or sports injury. These may include a fractured tooth, dislodged tooth, or a tooth that has been pushed back. Lacerations to the soft tissues are also possible. The treatment necessary depends on the type, severity, and location of the injury. 

How to Handle Emergencies

When pain strikes or an injury occurs, remember to stay calm. Do not hesitate to contact the dentist. The sooner your emergency situation is addressed, the better the chance of a positive outcome. The dental team may give you instructions on how to care for your pain or problem until you get to the office.

At-Home Treatment

While you wait for your appointment, follow these tips for common dental problems:

• Knocked-out tooth – Only handle the tooth by the crown. Keep the tooth moist. Place it back into the empty socket, put it in milk, or hold it between your cheek and gums.
• Chipped or broken tooth – Save and rinse any tooth pieces. Rinse the mouth with warm water. Use cold compresses to minimize swelling.
• Toothache – Rinse the area and floss your teeth gently. You may take an oral pain reliever. Do not place medication on the tooth or gums as it could burn the gums.
• Soft tissue trauma – Rinse your mouth and apply a cold compress. 

Dental Care During Covid-19

Initially, during the Covid-19 pandemic, many dental offices closed for routine care but still maintained emergency services as recommended by the ADA. Bleeding, swelling of the mouth, tooth pain, gum infection, and a broken or knocked-out tooth constitute emergency dental care.

Genesis Family Dentistry

In an emergency or urgent situation, we work to address the patient’s pain. Once the patient is comfortable, we can address the function and appearance of the smile. We strive to address the problem, stabilize the teeth and gums, and prevent additional issues. 

The goal of dental care is to maintain and protect the health of your mouth and to preserve the natural teeth. Depending on the problem, the treatment may include root canal therapy, crowns, bridges, or dental implants to restore the function and beauty of your smile.

Gentle, Family-Friendly Dental Care

At Genesis Family Dentistry, we have reopened to treat all of our patients for routine and emergency care. As a result of Covid-19, we have updated some of our daily procedures to ensure great service and to protect the safety of our patients and staff. Our office will communicate the necessary screenings and processes prior to your appointment. 

If you do have an emergency, please remain calm. Early dental paper writers care helps ease your pain and prevents the problem from spreading. When the unexpected occurs, contact Genesis Family Dentistry for emergency dental care in Uptown Charlotte.