Most Common Dental Emergencies

A dental emergency can be any urgent situation where your dental health, or the health of your teeth, is in jeopardy. If you have a dental emergency, call your dentist immediately. Your dentist will then be able to tell you whether your situation should wait until regular business hours or you should come in right away. 

While a dental emergency can mean different things from patient to patient, examples of dental emergencies include:

Toothache

Toothaches can be extremely painful. They can also occur as a result of an infection. When a toothache occurs, make an appointment to see your dentist as soon as possible. This will ensure your teeth stay healthy.

If the pain is caused by an infection, your dentist can prescribe antibiotics to treat it.

Broken Tooth

If you break a tooth, call your emergency dentist immediately. Depending on the type of break, you can sometimes see the dentist on the same day.

If the break is minor, the dentist may be able to temporarily cement the tooth. If the break is severe, the dentist may need to remove the broken piece and replace it with a dental crown.

Lost Filling

When you lose a dental filling, you will experience pain, sensitivity, and discomfort. The dentist may recommend replacing a lost filling as soon as possible. We can replace old, damaged, or leaking fillings with tooth-colored fillings. These fillings are custom-blended to blend in with your smile and provide natural-looking results.

Cracked Tooth

A cracked tooth can cause extreme pain and sensitivity. If you experience this, you should seek immediate care. If your tooth is cracked, it is susceptible to further damage, so we may splint it to protect it.

If the crack is minor, we may be able to bond the tooth. If the crack is severe, we may need to perform a root canal to prevent an infection.

Dislodged Tooth

In some cases, a tooth may dislodge from its natural position. This can be classified as a dental emergency because, without prompt treatment, the tooth can become infected.

In such a situation, first, rinse your mouth with warm water to wash away any debris. Then, use dental floss to gently move the tooth back into its socket. If you are unable to reposition the tooth, place the tooth in a container with milk or saline solution. Then, call your dentist as soon as possible to schedule an appointment.

Knocked-out Tooth

If your tooth has been knocked out, it's very important to act quickly. The sooner you get to your emergency dentist, the better chance you have of saving the tooth.

Gently rinse the tooth with clean water, making sure to remove any dirt or debris. If possible, try to place the tooth back in its socket. If this isn't possible, put the tooth in a cup of milk or wrap it in gauze and immerse it in milk or saliva from the mouth.

Call our office right away.

Loose Tooth

The tooth is loose because there is no longer any connection between the tooth and the bone. This can be the result of trauma, or it may occur over time.

If the tooth is only loose, a dentist can usually easily reaffix the tooth. However, if the tooth is loose due to gum disease, the dentist may first need to treat the gum disease before reaffixing the tooth.

Please reach out to our dental practice in Kansas City, KS, to have a consultation with our dentists, Dr. Moreno and Dr. Tejada. Please call us at (913) 647-1900 or schedule an online consultation, and we'll guide you further.