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Some dental situations are improved with quick action.
As with any physical injury or severe challenge, the time to treatment may have a
major effect on the end result. Below are some of the common emergencies with
advice. Of course, this does not constitute specific treatment instructions from Dr.
Durbin for your individual situation.
- Avulsed ("knocked out")tooth:
- This information is derived from the American
Association of Endodontists, click here http://www.aae.org/patient/avulsed.html
- Toothache:
- The most common cause for a classic toothache is a deep cavity which allows the pulp
tissue to become infected. Other common causes are a foreign body embedded into the
gum tissue which leads to infection, and also from trauma. For some amount of
advice, click Here
- Fractured Tooth:
- The ways in which teeth may fracture are quite variable. The bottom line is that
it is not always an emergency. For a tooth with a large filling that has a section
of the remaining tooth break free, it rarely causes immediate trouble. In the case
of a trauma break (such as a sports injury, motor vehicle accident, fall, etc.), the
determining factor will be the pulp exposure status. If the break is visible, the
pulp will normally be a red dot of bleeding tissue when exposed. As pink color is
mostly just thin tooth structure. The exposed pulp should be treated as quickly as
practical. Sensitivity to temperatures is quite normal and is not indicative of need
for immediate treatment. Root canal therapy may be needed to keep a badly damaged
tooth. Oddly, keep any pieces which break off. Fractures may sometimes be
bonded back into place, especially for kids.
- Swelling:
- A very rapid onset of large areas of swelling from a tooth or the gums is definitely
cause for concern. Although the situation varies, antibiotic therapy is indicated in
most cases. If the patient is not in currently in the care of a dentist whom he/she
may reach in an emergency, another suggestion would be a hospital emergency room to begin
medication therapy as soon as possible. The one main rule: swelling will usually
come back unless the cause is treated, and it normally is more serious each time than the
time before.
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