Typically, no one is truly prepared for a dental emergency. There are so many different variables that could take place when it comes to a traumatic dental injury. It is important to know how to handle the most common dental accidents in the case that one happens to you or a loved one. That’s why your Fort Worth dentist took the time to post this article. Hopefully, after reading this piece, you’ll feel more prepared for any dental emergency and know who to call if an incident happens.

First off, ask yourself: is this an urgent dental accident?

A dental emergency constitutes as any dental problem that causes you to be in pain. This could be a sudden change to older dental restorations in your mouth or damages your teeth or gums. With that being said, there are certain dental emergencies that are more urgent than others. It’s important to recognize the difference so that you can act accordingly.

The following are examples of urgent dental emergencies:

• Persistent bleeding.
• Knocked out tooth.
• Jaw injury.
• Swelling that won’t go down.
• Severe toothache.

The following are examples of non-urgent dental emergencies:

• Lost dental restorations (dental crown, fillings, or bridges).
• Cracked tooth (unless it’s causing severe pain).
• Broken retainers or mouthguards.
• Moderate toothaches.

Who can help me during my dental emergency?

Of course, we prefer that you call your emergency dentist in Fort Worth at Fort Dental first. But, there are certain situations that call for immediate attention from the emergency room. If you’re experiencing excruciating pain or bleeding that will not stop, we recommend going to the nearest emergency room as soon as possible.

Although unfortunate, it’s very rare that ER’s have dentists on staff to truly address and treat your dental emergency. In most cases, the physician there will refer you to a dentist for emergency dentistry and give you a prescription for pain medication. That’s why it’s best to visit us first in the cases that you can.

What do I do until I make it to Fort Dental?

No matter which dental emergency, the best thing to do is REMAIN CALM. There are also some practices you can keep in mind and try when you’re traveling to our Fort Worth office.

The following are suggestions that may help you during a dental emergency at home:

• Use a mixture of salt and water to relieve irritation and cleanse swelling in your mouth.
• If a tooth is knocked out, retrieve it and preserve it in a glass of milk until you can get to your dentist.
• Use a cold compress to help reduce swelling, numb a painful area, and apply pressure to stop bleeding.

We’re here for you in your times of need!

When a dental emergency strikes, it’s important to have a dental home that can help you through these hard times. We’re there for you throughout every step of the way. And a big bonus for patients that need help outside of normal business hours: we’re open late some days and even open on Saturdays! The next time you need help with a dental emergency, keep calm and contact Fort Dental!