Dental emergencies can happen at any time and for a variety of reasons. When there is a dental emergency like a cracked tooth, it is imperative to take care of it as soon as possible. A cracked tooth is a severe dental emergency, and it is important to know the best treatment to seek as quickly as possible.
There are several ways a tooth can crack to the point where it is considered a dental emergency and requires an unscheduled visit to the dentist.
The first, of course, can be due to injury. For instance, someone is playing soccer, they see the ball in the air and jump up for a head pass, only to accidentally collide with an opponent who is also going up for the ball. They crash and hit the ground.
One person is okay, but the other suddenly spits out a piece of tooth. The rest of it is still intact, but the impact from the collision was hard enough to chip a part of the tooth and crack the rest of it. Dental emergencies can occur in the strangest ways.
This is a common culprit. A person could be sucking on a Jolly Rancher. Just as they are finishing the candy, they bite into it. All of a sudden, they feel pain, and something is in their mouth that feels harder than that Jolly Rancher. Those would be tooth fragments. Hard candies and other super-crunchy foods like Corn Nuts can also easily crack a tooth.
In the event of a cracked tooth, clean the mouth out with warm water. After cleaning, take a cold compress and apply it to the area of the affected tooth to keep the swelling down. Over the counter medicines like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help to address the pain temporarily. Never take a painkiller or use a numbing gel as these could cause gum damage, depending on the type of crack and how severe it is.
It is also imperative to get to the dentist as soon as possible. If there are emergency dental services in the area, be sure to know what their hours of operation are. If the emergency dental service is not available, a trip to the emergency room may be required. Prompt attention to the affected tooth is a must. An unaddressed broken tooth can lead to severe dental problems down the road like an abscess.
Dental emergencies come in different degrees of seriousness, but a cracked tooth is one that needs to be taken care of in the quickest timeframe possible. The faster repairs or procedures can take place, the better the chances are of preventing further dental problems involving the same tooth. If you have a dental emergency or have questions about our emergency dental services, please call our office today.
Request an appointment here: https://www.dentistofvisalia.com or call Visalia Care Dental at (559) 975-1213 for an appointment in our Visalia office.
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