Emergency Tooth Extraction
No one wants an emergency tooth extraction, but accidents happen. Whether you have an infected tooth, an oral injury, or a tooth abscess causing severe pain, the best thing you can do in the case of a dental emergency is to be prepared. Below more information is provided on emergency tooth extractions and what steps you can take in case of an emergency.
Emergency dental services
Do you know where to go in case of a dental emergency? Don’t be alarmed if you don’t, many people have never thought of this! One of the first steps to help you be prepared in case of a dental emergency is to have a list of places where you can find emergency dental services. Here is a list of places you should consider:
- Your dentist: If you aren’t sure if your dentist provides emergency dental services, the next time you visit you should ask.
- Recommendations: If your dentist does not provide emergency services, you should ask them for recommendations and create a list.
In case of an emergency – Don’t panic!
If you are in the middle of an oral emergency and don’t know where to go, don’t panic, there are options available to you. The important thing to remember, is to not rush to the emergency room. You should only go to the emergency room if you or your loved one are experiencing excessive bleeding, pain, or have a severe wound to the face. If this is not your experience, take a deep breath! First, call your regular dentist’s office and see if they are able to provide emergency services. If it is during normal business hours, your dentist or office assistant can help to assess the injury over the phone and provide guidance on next steps. If it is after normal office hours, it is still a good first step to call your dentist’s office. Their voicemail may provide a number to call in case of an emergency or instructions to follow.
Dental emergencies that may result in extraction
Emergency dental extractions are not common, but sometimes they are necessary. All dentist will do their best to avoid extracting any teeth. The following emergencies may result in the need for an emergency extraction:
- Impacted wisdom teeth. When wisdom teeth are impacted, or not fully broken through the gumline, they can cause cysts or infections to develop. Impacted wisdom teeth that are causing infection and serious pain should be removed immediately.
- Infected teeth. Tooth decay left untreated can lead to a tooth infection. Infected teeth are not only painful, but can be very dangerous and may result in an infection that can spread through the whole body. In order to prevent the spread of infection, infected teeth should be removed as soon as identified.
- Oral accident. If an accident or injury to the mouth occurs, it will not always result in an emergency dental procedure. However, some accidents, such as a teeth cracked below the gum line, may need an emergency tooth extraction.
Emergency tooth extraction procedures are almost exactly the same as a routine, planned tooth extraction. This is good news and means the procedure can be performed quickly with very little pain.
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