What Are Dental Emergencies

Dental emergencies should not be taken lightly. Although not all dental 'troubles' equate to an emergency trip to the dentist, it is still important that proper handling of such situation could mean the difference between saving a person's tooth or losing a tooth.

A dental emergency is one that requires immediate medical attention, like a blow to the head resulting to a broken tooth or a fractured jaw. Abscessed tooth that is accompanied with pain, fever, or swelling, is actually just as serious and it requires immediate treatment.

Types of Dental Emergencies

Knocked-Out Tooth also known as avulsed tooth usually happens when the tooth falls out of the mouth. It is a common accident, especially among children, sports related activities and even on the road.

Ninety percent of this tooth could have been saved and reinstated back if proper preservation technique has been used during the time of the accident. Parents, caregivers or people present during the accident usually bring the knocked-out tooth to the dentist in the hope that it can be replanted. However, generally if the initial necessary steps to keep the tooth viable for replantation is not taken, the chances of a successful replantation of the knocked-out tooth becomes minimal or at most zero.

Generally, the public understanding is that submerging the tooth in milk will preserve it. The truth is that the main component of our tooth is enamel. It is one of the hardest substances in our body. However, once the tooth is out of a person's mouth, it begins to die. This happens in just 15 minutes. Frequently, without proper storage, within two hours the tooth is dead. For the tooth to be successfully replanted, the periodontal ligament has to be kept alive. This periodontal ligament is a thin layer of cells surrounding the tooth.