Common Dental Emergencies

Despite being diligent about our dental health and seeing a dentist every six months, dental emergencies can happen. They are a part of life, so be smart and prepare in advance for issues that may arise in the future. It is important to line up your emergency plan before the emergency actually occurs. Does your current dentist have night and weekend hours? Most emergencies tend to happen at the most inopportune times, so having a plan in place is crucial.

Here are some of the most common dental emergencies that we consistently see and what some of the most common causes are:

Chipped Tooth

Despite being as careful as possible, chipping a tooth is common, especially the front teeth that are a bit thinner at the edges. The top and bottom teeth colliding too firmly or even accidentally biting down on a fork can cause a chip.

Cracked Tooth

All it takes is biting down on one seed or pit that was not supposed to be in a dish, and you can easily crack a tooth. This generally happens to the back molars and if not treated can split the tooth further, cause gum issues or even lead to the tooth needing to be removed.

Tooth Knocked Out

Playing contact sports is one of the largest causes of tooth displacement, but simple household accidents like walking into a door or getting hit with a cabinet can also knock out a tooth.

These common dental emergencies can be easily taken care of if the person experiencing them gets to a dentist or emergency physician quickly. The longer you wait, and the more home remedies you try, the more painful and expensive the treatment will be later. These relatively minor issues can lead to further tissue injury and gum infection if not taken care of efficiently. Dental health is not to be taken lightly! If you have an emergency, get it taken care of as soon as possible.