Dental Emergencies in Red Deer
Just when you think you’ve thought of everything, life comes along to remind you that you aren’t always in control. At least, that’s what it can feel like when you find yourself dealing with a dental emergency. Emergency injuries can happen in a flash, often without warning. Common examples of dental emergencies are those that occur as a result as a slip, trip or fall, injuries that happen in the throes of a great game and even infections that seem to erupt out of nowhere. When an emergency strikes, the best thing you can ask for is that you have the tools on hand to handle the problem until you can get in to see a dentist for an emergency appointment. Always keep a first aid kit on hand to deal with injuries when they happen – in your home and in your vehicle. Sports facilities should always have a comprehensive first aid kit on hand to handle injuries.
What Qualifies as a Dental Emergency?
One thing is for sure: if you are in severe tooth pain that cannot be controlled, this is a sign that you need to call your dentist and request an emergency dental appointment. Severe pain and obvious injury to the mouth are both reasons to contact us even if you aren’t sure whether you need an emergency appointment.
We will take your call and hear your concern to help you determine your next steps.
Triaging Injuries
Not all injuries are made equal, and sometimes it isn’t your teeth that requires help first. This can be hard to imagine when the sight of blood coming from your mouth post-vehicle crash has your adrenaline pumping, but the truth is that the mouth is highly vascular. This means that even small cuts to the mouth or gums often present with more blood than you might expect. The important thing is to keep calm while you assess the real damage. For example, injuries that occur as a result of a car crash should be carefully assessed and any injuries to the head must be prioritized ahead of dental injuries. This includes injuries to the jaw that indicate a possible break. In situations like these, it is critical to proceed to a hospital emergency room immediately. There is no question that a head injury far outweighs the severity of the loss of a tooth. Your dentist will be available to assist you in identifying restorative options for your teeth once your condition is stabilized and the most urgent concerns have been attended to. In these cases, call 9-1-1 and/or proceed to the nearest emergency room.
Are You Experiencing a Dental Emergency?
If you are experiencing a dental emergency in Red Deer, please give us a call @ 403-986-8000 and we will do our best to assist you as soon as possible.
Infections
If you have severe pain in your mouth, with or without the presence of swelling, a pustule, or a bad taste, it’s likely that you have an infection. Dental infections can be serious, since they risk being transferred into the blood supply. Call our office to explain your situation. Let us know how this infection may have occurred, when it started or how long it has been hurting, if there is anything that makes the pain worse or better, and if you took any medications.
Injuries
If your tooth is fully or partially knocked out (or is unstable due to traumatic impact), call us immediately. You can maximize your chances of keeping the tooth if you call us immediately and come within 30 minutes of the injury occurring. Broken or dislodged teeth should be rinsed in clean water and transported in the cheek pocket (if they can’t be placed back into the socket) or in a cup of milk. To help control bleeding due to an injury, find a square of sterile gauze in your first aid kit and fold or roll it until it can be placed over the source of the bleeding and apply pressure by biting down gently on the gauze to promote the formation of a blood clot. When your gauze becomes saturated, replace it with another clean piece.
For more information about this or other services offered by our general dentist, contact our clinic today.
