Dental Emergencies
Articles
Dental Emergencies: Introduction
Pain is one of the reasons people go to the dentist. A painful tooth can be triggered by hot or cold food and drinks.
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Dental Emergency Procedures Can Help Save a Tooth
Handling a dental emergency can be tricky when you or a loved one is in pain, but a quick and appropriate reaction can help save a tooth in danger. The American Dental Association recommends that you become familiar with these dental emergency procedures just in case you ever have a dental emergency
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Injured Tooth: What Should I Do?
As with any trauma to the mouth, you should consult with your dentist immediately to determine if treatment is required.
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Partially Dislodged (Extruded) Tooth
When a tooth is partially loosened or dislodged from its socket, dentists call it an extruded tooth. As long as the nerve and blood vessels remain intact, an extruded tooth may be saved without root-canal treatment, depending on how displaced it is.
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Fractured and Broken Teeth
Teeth are remarkably strong, but they can chip, fracture or break. Teeth usually break as a result of trauma — from biting down on something hard, for example, or from a blow to the face. A child may fracture a tooth falling off a bike or curb during play
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Knocked-Out Tooth (Avulsed Tooth)
Dentists refer to a knocked-out tooth as an "avulsed" tooth. This is one of the most serious dental emergencies, but the damage isn't necessarily permanent.
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Lost Filling or Crown
Fillings, which are materials used to fill cavities in the teeth, and crowns, which slip over and cover the tops of damaged teeth, sometimes loosen and fall out.
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Severe Pain(Not From Trauma)
Any injury to the gums or teeth can be very painful. In some cases, however, the cause of severe dental pain is not obvious.
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Lodged Foreign Bodies
It's not unusual for small food particles — especially hard particles such as popcorn hulls — to get underneath the gum and irritate the tissues.
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Pericoronitis
Wisdom teeth do not always emerge (erupt) into the mouth properly because there may not be enough room in the mouth for them to fit. Sometimes, a part of the tooth may remain covered by a flap of gum.
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Abscess
An abscess is a limited area of pus formed as a result of a bacterial infection. The body's immune system reacts to the infection, and sends white blood cells to the area to try to get rid of the bacteria.
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Traumatic Injuries of the Lips and Tongue
Trauma to the lips, tongue and the inside of the mouth is quite common.
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Pizza Palate
Your pizza arrives, you're hungry and it smells so good. You take out that first piece, dripping with cheese, take a big bite…and burn the roof of your mouth.
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Videos and Interactive Guides
How to Brush
Learn the technique recommended for the best cleaning.
How to Floss
Find simple instructions for effective flossing.
Fresh Breath Assessment
How fresh is your breath? Find out by visiting the Fresh Breath Institute.
Guide to Brushing
Test your brushing skills with our FUN 3-D brusher.
