Every dental emergency is unique, but there are a number of problems that tend to occur more frequently than others. For example, a couple of the most common complaints that patients have are that they are in pain or that they lost one of their fillings or crowns. How do dentists handle these and other urgent situations? Continue reading below to find out.
Toothache
A toothache is not technically a dental emergency. Rather, it is a symptom of a dental emergency. Therefore, one of the first things your dentist will do is strive to figure out what is causing the pain. Then, they can recommend a treatment. You might need root canal therapy, a filling, gum disease treatment, or possibly even a tooth extraction.
Lost Restoration
Fillings and crowns are designed to protect damaged teeth, and they can last for a long time. However, they do eventually reach the end of their lifespan, and in some cases, they fall out unexpectedly! In these situations, a dentist may be able to reattach the lost restoration. However, they might also need to design a completely new restoration or perform additional restorative treatment on the exposed tooth.
Broken Tooth
Whether your tooth is chipped, cracked, or severely broken, your dentist will evaluate whether or not repairing the tooth is practical. It might be possible to do so with dental bonding or a crown. Often, severely damaged teeth require root canal therapy. If preserving the tooth is not advisable, you might need to get it removed altogether.
Bleeding and Trauma
A car accident, a fall, or a mishap during sports can cause significant damage to the teeth and soft oral tissues. An emergency dentist may clean your wounds and take steps to repair your teeth. For example, if a tooth got knocked loose, it might need a splint to hold it in place for a while.
Post-Op Complications
Most dental procedures are successful, and you can expect to heal without any major complications. In rare instances, though, there is a post-op infection or other issues. Your dentist might need to provide antibiotics or take other steps to get your recovery back on track.
What to Expect with Emergency Treatment
While emergency dental treatment might seem a little intimidating, it is important to remember that your dentist wants to help you get out of pain ASAP. You can anticipate that they will provide gentle treatment and use techniques, such as local anesthesia, to make your experience as easy as possible. Hopefully, you will be back to feeling like yourself in what seems like no time!
Meet the Practice
At Gillis Dental, we take great pride in providing comfortable, high-quality care for members of our community. We have compassion for those in pain, and we strive to accept same-day emergency appointments whenever possible. To learn more about how we may be able to serve your family, contact our Needham office at 781-202-6357.