Emergency Services Specialist

What constitutes a dental emergency?

Dental emergencies often occur when you experience trauma to the mouth, such as when a tooth is knocked out. Other emergencies include:

• Severe tooth pain
• Dislodged crowns or fillings
• Cracked or chipped teeth
• Abscesses or swollen gums
• An object stuck in the teeth
• A swollen jaw

If you have a dental problem and you’re not sure it constitutes an emergency, call the office of Academy Dental anyway. The experienced staff can help you determine if you need an immediate appointment.

What should I do about a knocked-out tooth?

If a tooth is knocked out, handle it as little as possible. Rinse it if it’s dirty, but avoid touching the root. Then, if possible, place your tooth back its socket. If that’s too painful, put it in a glass of whole milk and transport it to Academy Dental. If you get to the office soon enough, Dr. Thind and her colleagues may be able to reattach your tooth.

When is a broken crown or filling an emergency?

You should get broken crowns or fillings fixed as soon as possible to prevent damage to your tooth. Plus, your affected tooth will likely be very sensitive, making eating and drinking difficult. The staff at Academy Dental will work to replace your crown or filling as soon as possible.

Is a chipped tooth an emergency?

In some cases, a chipped tooth can wait a few days to be repaired. However, you’re best off contacting Academy Dental immediately so the dental experts can determine the severity of your situation. If you have the chip, wrap it in wet gauze and place it in a plastic bag. The longer you wait, the more your chances grow of sustaining permanent damage to your tooth.

How can I avoid a dental emergency?

You can take some simple steps to avoid a dental emergency. If you participate in sports, wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth during falls or tackles. Don’t chew hard items, including ice and popcorn kernels, which can crack a tooth. Also, avoid using your teeth as tools to cut objects.

When Do I Need My Wisdom Teeth Removed?

For the majority of people, their wisdom teeth come in during their late teens or early twenties. This age can vary, however, since some people get them when they are younger, older, or do not get them at all. The most important signal that you need your wisdom teeth removed is not age, but rather if you experience any pain, gum swelling, infection, abscess, or if it starts to erupt. If you notice any of these symptoms, consider making an appointment to have your needs evaluated.

Why Do I Need My Wisdom Teeth Removed?

There are two scenarios in which it would be necessary for your wisdom teeth to be removed: if the tooth is unable to emerge from your gums or if it can only emerge partially. If your tooth is trapped in your gums it will become impacted, which can then cause the formation of cysts around the tooth. This will then damage the surrounding nerves, roots, and bone. An impacted tooth may also damage surrounding teeth by pushing them, resulting in crowding and bite problems. In the case that the tooth can only partially emerge, it is likely that you will experience gum inflammation. This inflammation creates the perfect environment for bacteria to grow, causing gum disease and cavities. Not only will all of these issues harm your dental and overall health, but they will also result in a need for extra treatments, and therefore costs, that could be otherwise avoided by removing your wisdom teeth.

What Does It Mean If My Tooth Is “Impacted”?

A wisdom tooth is impacted if it does not have enough room to emerge and break through the gum fully. Impacted teeth are problematic because they can cause crowding and shifting of surrounding teeth, cavities, gum infection, or cysts.

What Is the Recovery Process?

While recovery time varies from patient to patient, the average time for full recovery is about 7-10 days. You can expect to return to certain everyday activities sooner—you can carefully brush your teeth after 24 hours and resume other activities, such as working and exercising, after a few days. The recovery process also includes following pain management directions from the dentist, which may involve icing your jaw or utilizing pain medication. While you recover, it is normal to experience swelling, but if you experience anything you are unsure of, for instance, dry sockets or bone spurs, contact our office, and we will be able to examine the area.

If you live in or near Hamilton or East Orange, NJ, and would like to discuss a dental emergency with a dentist near you, call Academy Dental or request an appointment online today.