Dentists are focusing on emergency dentistry care due to the COVID-19 outbreak. With the compulsory stay-at-home order in place, handling only emergency procedures keeps everyone safe and reduces the burden on hospital emergency departments. Cases like broken teeth, infections, bleeding and severe toothaches require urgent dental care. When a dental emergency occurs, contact a dentist immediately for instructions.
Some of the most common emergency dental problems include root canal infections, a broken tooth, a loose tooth, severe toothache and an abscessed tooth. Patients who need emergency dental care need to call a dentist immediately for help. In most situations, access to quick emergency dentistry care can make or break the situation, meaning there may be irreversible damage if the necessary steps are not taken.
Some of the emergency dentistry procedures available include:
A severe toothache is one of the most common dental emergencies. Most times, it is caused by tooth decay. First, the dentist will examine the tooth. If it is indeed a cavity, they will clean out the decay and fill the tooth with a dental filling to restore dental health.
If the cause of the toothache is an infected root canal, the dentist will perform root canal treatment. The procedure will get rid of the infection inside the tooth (clean out the infected pulp) and is sometimes the only effective alternative to extracting the tooth.
A tooth can get cracked or broken due to accidents at home and will require an emergency dentistry procedure. Patients may also suffer from a knocked-out tooth, which is a devastating dental emergency. Patients need to contact an emergency dentistry practice as soon as possible. If the tooth is cracked, the dentist may use dental bonding or a crown to restore the tooth.
The dentist will attempt to save a damaged tooth, so emergency tooth extraction is usually the last resort when all other options fail. Tooth extraction is usually necessary if the tooth is broken along the gum line or if there is severe decay that cannot be treated with a crown or filling. Additionally, it may be required if root canal treatment cannot save the tooth. Tooth extraction can stop further spread of infection and keep the patient comfortable until they can get a tooth replacement after the COVID-19 lockdown ends.
In case of injuries or trauma to the face, one might experience bleeding, especially if the tooth is dislodged. A knocked-out tooth needs to be restored as soon as possible or the tooth may be lost permanently. The dentist can save the tooth if the patient gets to the dental office on time. However, if reinserting the tooth is not possible, they may recommend additional treatment.
If bleeding occurs due to a recent dental procedure like tooth extraction, it should subside within 24 to 48 hours afterward. If the bleeding persists, patients need to contact the dentist immediately as it may require additional emergency dentistry care, such as a surgical suture.
Experiencing a dental emergency can be disorienting, so try to call the dentist as soon as possible for help. The dentist will perform necessary emergency dentistry steps to restore dental health.
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