Emergency Dentist Near You
Dental emergencies are alarming, unexpected, and painful occurrences. The survival of the teeth depends on the promptness of treatment. A heavy blow to the mouth, grinding, biting on hard objects and other scenarios can crack a tooth. In more severe cases, the crown, filling, restorative device or the entire tooth may fall off. Adequate and timely treatment is required to limit the pain and deterioration of the condition.
Common tooth emergencies
1.) Toothache: Sometimes, food materials can get stuck between the teeth causing discomfort in children. Such foreign debris can be removed by brushing or flossing. Some other common causes of toothaches include tooth decay, development or eruption of teeth, trauma, and fractures.
2.) Knocked-out tooth: It is necessary to see a dentist in Cranbrook, BC V1C 2R8 immediately.
How you can help:
- Recover the knocked-out tooth. Ensure you are holding the crown and not the root.
- Wash off debris and dirt gently from the tooth without causing more damage.
- Return the tooth to its original position with little pressure or place the tooth in the cheek pouch. In the case of younger children, drop the tooth in a glass of milk or saliva.
- Ensure that the tooth is kept moisturized i.e. not dried out during transportation. It is very important to do this, in order to save the tooth.
- Meet a dentist near you immediately.
3.) Dental intrusion: In some cases, a tooth may be forced into the jaw bone due to trauma. It is important to contact your emergency dentist in Cranbrook immediately. Your dentist may recommend waiting for the intrusion to go down on its own or performing root canal therapy to prevent the tooth from dying.
4.) Tooth displacement: This is often classified as ‘luxation’ or “extrusion,” depending on how the tooth is positioned after trauma. When the tooth remains in the socket, and the pulp is intact, this is called a luxated tooth. The unnatural angle of the tooth protrudes, and the jawbone is fractured. Extrusion refers to a tooth that is loosely attached to its socket. Milk tooth extrusions in young children may heal naturally but treatment should be sought for permanent teeth that have been displaced.
5.) Crown fracture: The crown, also known as a dental cap, is the part of the tooth that is visible in the mouth. Trauma affects this part of the tooth most often. While minor enamel cracks may not be an emergency, pulp exposure requires immediate emergency treatment in Cranbrook, BC V1C 2R8.
6.) Root fracture: A root fracture, considering the location of the root may not be directly visible to the naked eye, can be caused by direct trauma to the root. X-rays are always taken to confirm a root fracture. A tooth fractured at its root may require the tooth to be extracted. Some types of root fractures heal with proper splinting. However, if discomfort persists, or tooth decay develops additional treatment may be required.