As such, it can be difficult to tell if a cracked or chipped tooth is a true dental emergency. While some dental issues can wait for a regular appointment, others might need immediate attention.

Understanding when a cracked or chipped tooth constitutes a dental emergency can help you take the proper steps to protect your oral health.

Assessing the Severity of the Damage

The first step in determining whether your cracked or chipped tooth is a dental emergency involves assessing the severity of the damage.

A minor chip might only require cosmetic repair, while a more significant break could expose the inner layers of the tooth, which can cause pain and bleeding, requiring more immediate care [1].

How can you tell if your tooth needs emergency attention?

When a Cracked or Chipped Tooth Is an Emergency

• The tooth is visibly cracked into pieces or has a substantial chunk missing, exposing the sensitive dentin or pulp [2].
• You have severe pain, heightened sensitivity to temperature, and discomfort when biting down.

If you observe these symptoms, call your dentist right away. Ignoring a significant break or crack can lead to complications such as infections, which can further damage the tooth and surrounding tissues.

When a Cracked or Chipped Tooth Can Wait

A minor crack or chip may not be a dental emergency. These include cases where the chip may be just a tiny piece missing from the tooth, or a crack may not be noticeable at all. In these cases, you may experience very little or no pain.

While it’s still crucial to have these injuries evaluated by a dentist, they usually don’t require immediate attention and can wait for a regularly scheduled dental visit. However, if your injury gets worse or you experience severe pain, sensitivity, or bleeding, contact your dentist right away [3].

What to Do Next

If the crack or chip seems to be an emergency, there are steps you can take to protect your tooth while seeking professional care:

• Rinse your mouth. Use warm water to rinse the area gently, keeping it clean and reducing the risk of infection.

• Control bleeding. If there is bleeding, gently press a piece of gauze to the affected area.

• Manage pain. Use an over-the-counter pain reliever, but avoid aspirin if there is bleeding, as it can exacerbate the issue.

• Protect the tooth. If possible, cover a sharp or jagged edge with dental wax or sugar-free gum to prevent injury to your tongue or cheeks.

Seeking Professional Care

After assessing the damage and managing immediate symptoms, the next step is to contact your dentist. Even minor chips and cracks can lead to complications over time, and only a dental professional can provide a comprehensive treatment plan. Schedule an appointment at your earliest convenience to ensure proper care.

Contact Your Dentist Today

Remember, when in doubt, it’s always safer to consult with a dentist who can accurately diagnose and treat the problem. Don’t wait for symptoms to get worse—get in touch with your dentist to ensure your cracked or chipped tooth receives the attention it needs. Your prompt action can make all the difference in preserving your smile and oral health!

Sources:

1. https://www.ada.org/-/media/project/ada-organization/ada/ada-org/files/resources/coronavirus/covid-19-practice-resources/ada_covid19_dental_emergency_dds.pdf
2. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21628-fractured-tooth-cracked-tooth
3. https://www.aae.org/patients/dental-symptoms/cracked-teeth/ 

The post How to Determine if a Cracked or Chipped Tooth is a Dental Emergency appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Understanding the importance of quick emergency dental care can make all the difference. Here’s why you need to see a dentist as soon as possible after knocking out a tooth.

Time Is Crucial for Saving Your Tooth

When a tooth is knocked out, time is of the essence. The chances of successfully re-implanting your natural tooth reduce significantly after just 30 minutes [1]. 

Therefore, seeking emergency dental care promptly is crucial. The sooner you reach a dentist, the more likely it is that the tooth can be saved. The tooth’s root and surrounding tissue can become damaged if left outside the mouth for too long, making re-implantation impossible.

Missing teeth can lead to complications such as jaw misalignment, bone loss, and changes in bite patterns. Immediate care helps minimize these risks.

A knocked-out tooth also often comes with severe pain and discomfort. Dentists can provide effective solutions and pain management during your visit.

What to Do Immediately After Your Tooth Is Knocked Out

If you find yourself or someone else with a knocked-out tooth, don’t panic. Follow these steps to maximize the chances of saving your tooth:

• Handle the tooth carefully. Pick up the tooth by the crown and avoid touching the root to prevent further damage. If the tooth is dirty, rinse it gently with water—but do not scrub it or use soap.
• Reinsert if possible. If the person is conscious and able, try to reinsert the tooth back into its socket immediately. Make sure it’s facing the right way and gently bite down on a clean cloth to hold it in place.
• Store properly. If reinsertion is not possible, keep the tooth moist [2]. You can place it in a container with milk, saliva, or a saline solution. Avoid using water, as it can damage the cells on the root surface.
• Seek immediate dental care. Contact your dentist or visit the nearest emergency dental service right away. Explain the situation so they can prepare for your arrival.

Long-Term Care After Re-Implantation

If your dentist successfully re-implants the tooth, it’s essential to continue to visit your dentist regularly to monitor the tooth and surrounding tissues to ensure everything is healing properly.

If the tooth was lost during sports or similar activities, consider wearing a mouthguard during future events to minimize risk and protect your teeth [3].

Proper dental care can enhance healing and prevent infections. This includes brushing and flossing regularly to keep your teeth strong and healthy.

Don’t Wait to Get Care for a Knocked-Out Tooth

If you or someone you know experiences a knocked-out tooth, don’t hesitate to contact your dentist for immediate assistance. Most dentists offer time for emergencies both during regular business hours and after hours. You can save your tooth with quick action and care!

Sources:

1. 1. https://www.aae.org/patients/dental-symptoms/knocked-out-teeth/
   2. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/dental-emergencies 
   3. https://aaoinfo.org/blog/why-mouth-guards-are-essential/ 

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A dental emergency isn’t always the same for every person. However, there are certain situations in which you’re better off seeking help from a dentist as soon as you can. While you can go the emergency room if your dentist isn’t available, it’s always best to try and see a dentist for injuries or conditions specifically relating to the oral cavity.

So what exactly is considered a dental emergency? Here are a few conditions that you shouldn’t wait to seek help for.

Severe Pain, Swelling, or Bleeding

If you have sudden or severe pain, swelling, or bleeding, it’s time to call your dentist. Pain could be a symptom of a wide range of conditions, from knocked-out or cracked teeth to a life- threatening infection.

Any pain, swelling, or bleeding that’s uncontrollable needs to be evaluated by your oral healthcare professional as soon as possible. While some people who have dental health issues may not experience symptoms, others will.

For example, for some patients, a cracked tooth may not be a dental emergency if the crack is small, but for others, a major crack can be very painful and require immediate attention [1].

Always pay attention to your symptoms and listen to what your body needs!

Trauma to the Oral Cavity

Trauma to your oral cavity can take many forms. You may have been in a car accident and have a broken jaw, or sustained another type of injury that’s affected your facial bones or even your airway.

Any acute trauma to the oral cavity is generally considered a dental emergency [2]. Sports injuries, falls, car accidents, and many other types of situations could affect your jaw, teeth, or gums, leading to the need for immediate professional attention.

Post-Surgery Complications

If you’ve recently had a dental procedure—whether an extraction, wisdom tooth removal, or dental implant placement—and are experiencing adverse symptoms, you may need to see your dentist as soon as possible.

Symptoms of a post-surgery complication or infection that you should never ignore include:

• Swelling at the procedure site
•  Unexplained bleeding
• Loose or missing stitches
• A bad taste in your mouth
• Uncontrollable pain

These could all be signs that your mouth isn’t healing as it should be and may even have an infection [3]. If you’re not sure whether a symptom you’re experiencing is normal, never hesitate to reach out to your dentist to ask!

Broken Orthodontia

If you or your child has metal braces, any type of injury or accident involving your oral cavity could be dangerous. If metal braces are damaged or begin to come apart for any reason, the wire could puncture your soft tissues and require a prompt repair.

While some broken or damaged orthodontia can wait until the next available appointment, other cases are considered an emergency. Never wait to get your braces evaluated if you’re experiencing severe pain or bleeding!

Don’t Hesitate to Reach Out to Your Dentist!

Most dentists offer emergency care and will do their best to accommodate you in the event of a dental emergency. Always reach out to your dentist first before going to the emergency room to ask if they can see you or if you have any questions about a potential dental emergency!

Sources:

1. https://vitalrecord.tamhsc.edu/you-asked-what-qualifies-as-a-dental-emergency/
2. https://success.ada.org/~/media/CPS/Files/Open%20Files/ADA_COVID19_Dental_Emer
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1071467/

The post What Exactly Is Considered a Dental Emergency? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Whether you’re traveling abroad this summer or are just going on a nearby weekend getaway with friends, here’s what to do if you’re experiencing a dental emergency while you’re away.

Toothache

If you have a toothache while flying, don’t panic. For people who may have a cavity, a damaged filling, or a crack in their teeth, the changes in air pressure can make the affected area expand and cause pain or discomfort. Your toothache should go away after landing, but be sure to follow up with your dentist when you return home.

If you have a toothache and haven’t flown anywhere—or if the toothache from your flight
hasn’t gone away—you can try to alleviate your pain by rinsing gently with warm salt water, carefully flossing your teeth, or applying a cold compress to the affected area. You should never ignore a toothache, especially if the pain is severe, so your dentist as soon as you’re able, and find one while you’re traveling if you can!

Cracked or Chipped Tooth

If you crack or chip a tooth during your vacation, it’s important to find a dentist who can assess the problem, especially if you’re experiencing pain as a result of your injury. Your hotel concierge may be able to recommend a local dentist, or if you need to, go to the emergency room to address the problem.

Knocked-Out Tooth

A knocked-out tooth will require immediate attention, so find a dentist if you can, but visit the emergency room if you cannot. If the tooth is in one piece, you can hold it gently by the crown and attempt to keep it in its socket until you can receive medical attention. If your tooth is in fragments, gather up all the pieces if you can and store them in saliva or milk until you can see a dentist.

Restorative Dentistry Issue

Whether it’s a filling that’s fallen out or broken dentures, it’s common for restorative dentistry issues to crop up, especially if you haven’t seen the dentist in a while and your restoration is in need of repair. You may be able to get help from a local dentist for a temporary fix until you can see your regular dentist at home. If you’re traveling abroad, you may be able to ask your insurance company for dentists that you can see.

Be Prepared!

Your best bet for a dental emergency is to be prepared. Go in for a checkup before your trip. Consider getting dental insurance if you’re going abroad. Travel with everything you know you need to maintain your smile. You can also be extra prepared and keep a list of dentists in your bag, whether you’re going somewhere locally or outside the country. This can save you precious time if you’re experiencing a severe toothache or a knocked-out tooth!

Dealing with an emergency is never at the top of anyone’s fun list, but being prepared while you’re traveling can make all the difference. Know where to go if you need help. Keep items you know you’ll need with you. Keep these tips in mind if a dental emergency happens while you’re on your vacation!

The post Dental Emergency While Traveling? Here’s What to Do appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

However, even wearing a mouthguard during non-contact sports such as soccer, basketball, and
baseball can help prevent injuries. Any child who plays a sport—regardless of age—should wear
a mouthguard. But why?

Injuries Can Happen During Any Sport

Accidents can happen anywhere, especially when your child is involved in a sport. Sports
injuries to the face, jaw, or mouth can cause major damage, from tooth loss to cut gums.

Even if your child just loses a baby tooth, losing baby teeth prematurely will impact your child’s
permanent teeth. Baby teeth are there to help guide adult teeth into position, so without this
important marker, your child may need to have orthodontia later on.

A mouthguard helps absorb the impact of the blow to the face or jaw, reducing the chances
that your child’s teeth will suffer the consequences. In fact, recent research suggests that
mouthguards may help prevent concussions during sports!

Mouthguards for Children of All Ages

Children of any age can be sized for a mouthguard. Many children start playing sports young, so
dentists can make custom mouthguards for children of all ages and sizes.

Although store-bought mouthguards are cheaper, they tend to be uncomfortable and don’t
provide full protection. A custom mouthguard from your dentist is your best choice and will
provide complete protection for your little one’s smile.

Mouthguards aren’t just for kids with braces—any child can benefit from wearing one when
playing sports!

How to Get Your Child to Wear Their Mouthguard

Not all children are keen on wearing mouthguards. Some may be too young to fully understand
why the mouthguard is necessary and attempt to go without it. Fortunately, there are several
ways to get your child to wear their mouthguard.

 Get their favorite color. Your child will love their custom colored mouthguard!

 Make it fun. You can get sparkly mouthguards or mouthguards with a unique logo or
design to customize it for your child.

 Flavored mouthguards. Some dentists offer the option for mouthguards to come with a
flavor, which may encourage your child to wear it during their sport.

 Incentives. If all else fails, offer your child an incentive, such as choosing a prize after
every game they wear their mouthguard.

You can and should explain to your child why the mouthguard is important for their smile, even
if they’re a bit young to fully understand. You can explain that a mouthguard is just as
important as their uniform, knee pads, shin guards, and other protective gear. You can also tell
them that a mouthguard is just another way of taking care of your smile, just like brushing and
flossing.

If your child is playing a sport, especially a contact sport, a mouthguard should be an essential
part of their uniform during games and practices. Protecting your child’s teeth—even if they’re
baby teeth—is going to help their smile remain healthy and secure for life!

The post At What Age Should My Child Wear a Mouthguard During Sports? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

But do dental implants have the ability to chip or break? Here’s everything you need to know
about your dental implant’s durability in addition to how to prevent any problems with your
tooth replacement.

Yes, It’s Possible

It is possible for your dental implant to chip. While it’s extremely rare for the actual titanium
implant to crack or fracture, the dental crown placed over it does have the potential to become
damaged.

How does this happen? Dental crowns can become damaged from an injury such as a contact
sport hit or a fall, teeth grinding, or biting down on something hard that you’re not supposed to
bite, such as a nut shell.

Dental implants enable you to have a beautiful smile again with all the security of a natural
tooth. It’s rare for these sturdy replacements to crack, even the dental crown portion, but it is
possible!

When to Seek Medical Advice

While a chipped or broken dental crown is not a strict dental emergency, you should still see
your professional dentist as soon as possible. This is because your dental crown will need to be
repaired or replaced.

If you have a broken or cracked crown on your dental implant, you should always seek medical
advice. A dental crown is there to protect your titanium implant and to provide your mouth
with the full functionality of a normal tooth, so getting it restored is a priority.

The process for getting your dental crown replaced will be the same as the first time you
received it. If your dentist office can’t make the crown that same day, you’ll get a temporary
crown in the meantime. If you need a crown repair, it may be as simple as filling in the chip or
break with composite resin!

How to Protect Your Dental Implant

It’s easy to protect your dental implant as well as your other teeth to prevent fractures and
chips. You can follow best practices that include:

 Not using your teeth as tools. Your teeth weren’t meant to crack open nuts, open
packages, or bite pencils. Use your teeth for chewing, nothing else!

 Wear a mouthguard for bruxism. Bruxism, also known as teeth grinding, can cause your
dental crown to fracture or chip. If you grind your teeth, your dentist can fit you with a
mouthguard to ensure your teeth don’t suffer the extreme damage that bruxism can
cause.

 Get regular checkups. Your professional dentist can provide you with regular checkups
and cleanings to ensure your dental implant and your natural teeth stay healthy and
strong.

Protecting your dental implant is simpler than you think when you take good care of your smile!
Whether you have a dental implant or are considering getting one, these sturdy tooth
replacements offer all the advantages of a real tooth. Although the crown on dental implants
does have the potential to chip, taking care of your smile ensures your dental implant will be in
good standing for life!

The post Can Dental Implants Chip or Break? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.