Common Dental Emergencies Our Kitchener Patients Have and Suggestions for Dealing With Them

Dental emergencies come up for our Kitchener patients, we are here for you – Book Appointment with Doon South a Dental, in Kitchener TODAY!

Here are a few common emergencies.

PERMANENT TOOTH KNOCKED OUT 

A permanent tooth knocked out whole is very urgent. If you can get to a Kitchener dentist like Doon South Dental within 30 minutes, the tooth may be re-attached in the socket with a chance of lasting for years. Gently rinse the tooth of any debris and keep it from drying out – in water, saliva, or best of all, milk. Keeping the root surface as undisturbed as possible will maximize the chance of successful re-attachment.

TOOTH PUSHED OUT OF POSITION BY A BLOW

A tooth pushed out of position by a blow is fairly urgent. It must be re-positioned by a dentist, and splinted to allow healing. You should be seeing your Kitchener dentist like Doon South Dental as soon as possible for this.

CHIPPED OR FRACTURED TOOTH FROM TRAUMA

A chipped or fractured tooth from trauma. Look closely:  if the pulp (the “nerve”) is exposed, you’ll see bleeding or pink tissue at the centre of the broken area. This needs treatment as soon as possible. If the tooth itself is not very sensitive, treatment is less urgent, but should be arranged promptly with your Kitchener Dentist like Doon South Dental.

ANY MAJOR TOOTH TRAUMA

Any major tooth trauma can cause problems that are not immediately apparent. The root can be fractured without showing, or the blow can cause the tooth to die and eventually abscess – sometimes weeks or months later. Teeth should always be evaluated and radiographed (x-rayed) within a few days for hidden damage by your Kitchener Dentist –  Book Appointment with Doon a South Dental, TODAY!

SWELLING INSIDE THE MOUTH

Localized swelling inside the mouth should be seen if it lasts more than a few days or increases steadily, especially if it’s associated with a tooth.

Severe oral swelling that shows outside the mouth is urgent and requires prompt assessment.

Oral swelling that makes it hard to swallow or breathe is an emergency. Go to the hospital immediately.

SENSITIVITY

Mild sensitivity to hot and cold should be checked by your dentist if it persists more than a few weeks.

Severe sensitivity to hot may indicate a tooth that is dying. Call our Kitchener Dentist office for an appointment.

Sensitivity to sweet may indicate that an old filling is starting to leak – letting the sweetness under the filling. Not urgent if there are no other symptoms, but have it checked within a few weeks if it persists.

Sensitivity to hot and cold after a new filling is fairly common (although much less so with the newer filling and bonding materials).  The degree of sensitivity, and how long it lasts, tends to vary with the size and depth of the filling. If it’s gradually improving, time will normally solve the problem. If it’s steadily increasing, the tooth may be starting to die – call your dentist Book Appointment.

Sensitivity to bite after a new filling is also common. Most often the numbness of local anaesthetic made it difficult for the patient – and the dentist – to get the bite exactly right on the filling, and it needs a simple adjustment. A high bite can make the tooth feel increasingly bruised after a few days, and become increasingly sensitive to bite and to temperature.

OTHERS

Sudden sharp pain on chewing can indicate a crack in the tooth. If left, the tooth may break – come see us within a few days – Book Appointment.

A broken molar without pain may not be fractured close to the nerve – or the tooth may already be dead (so that there is no longer a nerve present. This should be seen within a few days. Book Appointment.

A permanent tooth coming behind the baby tooth, or the permanent tooth coming in without the baby tooth falling out, looks urgent but usually isn’t. This is very common, and should be seen – but it can usually wait a few weeks. Please contact us at Doon South Dental located in Kitchener to assist you with any of your dental requirements.   We look forward to meeting you.