What Is Considered a Dental Emergency?

While general medical emergencies are extremely common, many people don’t know what exactly qualifies for a medical emergency. The same thing holds true for dental emergencies.

Let’s learn about what exactly constitutes a dental emergency, what to do in the event of a dental emergency, how to prevent it, and where to seek high-quality dental emergency care in Eugene, Oregon. 

Examples of Dental Emergencies

A dental emergency is any situation that poses a threat to a person’s oral health and requires immediate intervention. Dental emergencies involve excruciating pain, profuse bleeding, and/or trauma.
Some instances, such as broken or chipped dental appliances or lost fillings—while extremely inconvenient — are not considered a dental emergency.

  • Broken or dislocated jaw
  • Cracked or avulsed (knocked out) teeth
  • Dental abscesses, or infections, with gum and jaw puffiness
  • Injuries to the structures inside the mouth
  • Oral laceration (tongue, lips, gums)
  • Severe toothaches
  • Swelling in the mouth that has spread to the face, cheek, or jaw

What Should I Do in the Event of a Dental Emergency?

The following are the corresponding measures you can take when a dental emergency arises:

·      Avulsed Tooth

Rinse the tooth in clear water, and place it, roots down, into the empty socket. Try to hold it in place until you see Dr. Binder at 360 Dental.  A tooth knocked out in a fall, car accident, or sports mishap can be saved if replanted quickly—within an hour after avulsion.

·      Toothaches and Dental Abscesses

Take over-the-counter pain medications. For swelling, ice the area:10 minutes on and 10 minutes off. Call our office for an appointment. When the swelling or infection subsides, Dr. Binder may recommend a restorative procedure, such as an emergency root canal therapy.

·      Oral Laceration

Using gauze pads or a clean cloth, place firm, direct pressure on the wound. If profuse bleeding doesn’t stop within 15 minutes, contact us at 360 Dental right away.

How to Prevent Dental Emergencies

At 360 Dental, Dr. Binder educates our patients on strategies for keeping dental emergencies at bay. Preventive strategies include the following:

  • Observing good oral hygiene at all times to help ensure optimal oral health
  • Coming to 360 Dental twice a year for a check-up and hygienic cleaning so your dentist can spot and treat problems early on
  • Wearing a mouthguard during all contact sports–whether an organized team sport or pick-up basketball game at the park
  • Not biting your nails, opening packages with your teeth, or chomping on very hard foods, such as peanut brittle

Emergency Dental Care in Eugene, OR

At 360 Dental, Dr. Binder offers emergency root canal therapy, among other procedures necessary to restore the function and appearance of the affected structure in your mouth.  To help you ease your anxiety and keep you calm throughout the procedure, Dr. Binder may also administer IV sedation.

If you have a dental emergency or you just need to schedule an appointment with Dr. Binder for a regular dental procedure, we are just a call away, at (541) 689-1645.