Accidents can happen anytime, and usually without warning. We all know the usual emergencies that accompany accidents, such as head injuries, scratches, bruises, and the like. But what is often severely overlooked is the case with accidents that revolve around our teeth. Injuries to the mouth can have severe repercussions not just for your oral health but for your health in general. Taking prompt action is essential when it comes to dealing with these sorts of cases, and besides, dental accidents can also ruin your appearance; you don’t want to walk around and be seen with a busted tooth that ruins your smile.
In cases like this, it’s pivotal that you get the right treatment. Everyone is familiar with emergency doctors for your physical health, but does everyone know about emergency dentists? When times are tricky, these professionals can accommodate any type of dental accident, from a busted tooth to injured gums. Luckily, in Australia, there’s an emergency dentist in Carlton North that can be on call when you need them. However, let’s see first the most common issues these dentists must deal with and what treatments they can offer.
Chipped Tooth: Ever had that moment when the food is too hard and you suddenly hear a nasty crack? That could be a sign that your tooth just got chipped. Many of you might just shrug this off as an inconvenience, but let me tell you, a chipped tooth can be a cause for concern. First off, obviously it will ruin that glowing smile of yours. You don’t want to be walking around and speaking to people with a hole in your mouth. And most importantly, depending on the damage, a chipped tooth can expose your root canal to the bacteria in your mouth and cause it to decay and inflame your gums and inner vessels that support your tooth, leading to a nasty infection (and in some cases, the development of an abscess). A good dentist can easily repair this with fillings if you seek immediate help, but if not, it can lead to permanent tooth loss.
Toothaches: these can be easily overlooked as a minor inconvenience, but these are telltale signs of an underlying serious problem. There are several things that can cause a toothache; the most common is an infection beneath your gums, inflamed root canals, or gum disease, all of which should be given prompt action. If continued to be ignored, it can spread and even inhibit you from doing daily tasks like chores, schoolwork, and even in your work, and it will affect your diet too by preventing you from eating properly because of the pain. Your emergency dentist can solve the problem easily with a quick check; it could either result in filling a cavity, tooth extraction, or, in some cases, the administration of antibiotics.
Abscesses: a pus is a sign of a nasty infection; regardless of where it is in your body, it could lead to complications such as fatigue, fevers, and chills. Once you see one in your tooth however, immediate actions need to be taken. Remember that your mouth houses millions of germs, and to have an abscess here can put you in severe risk of getting more infections. It could even lead to cardiac problems if left untreated for too long. Plus, the pain you will be experiencing here will almost be unbearable, leading to an inability to work and think properly. Immediately call a dentist if pus forms; they will probably give antibiotics to counteract the infections and bring the pus down.
Broken Braces: for people with braces, it’s already a struggle to have them in your teeth, but of course, sometimes mishaps happen, and your braces (particularly the wires) get damaged as a result. A damaged wire is dangerous for your mouth; depending on the severity of the problem, it could pierce the sides and roof of your mouth, giving you sores and bleeding. It could also affect the way your teeth will be aligned if not treated right away. If the braces themselves are the problem, take, for example, a loose brace; it could be a choking or ingestion problem. Call your dentist right away to resolve the issue.