Dental emergencies require immediate attention to relieve severe pain, treat high risk of infection or save a tooth that is at risk. Sometimes an accident can knock out a tooth and the emergency is obvious, but other times you may have pain or discomfort and not know what to do. Lost fillings, chipped veneers and broken dental appliances are annoying, but they do not require emergency dental care.
It is important to understand the difference between a standard dental issue that can wait a little while and a real emergency that can threaten your health or cost you a tooth. Here is what you should know about recognizing dental emergencies.
Dental emergencies in Panama
How to Know if it is a Dental Emergency?
Not every dental situation should be considered an emergency. To help you determine if you can wait to be seen by Clínica Dental Champsaur dentist or if you need to take a trip to the emergency hospital.
In general, any dental problem that needs immediate treatment to stop bleeding, alleviate severe pain, or save a tooth is considered an emergency. This consideration also applies to severe infections that can be life-threatening.
If you have any of these symptoms, you may be experiencing a dental emergency. Call Clínica Dental Champsaur immediately and describe what happened.
Types of Emergency Dental Treatment
Knocked-Out Tooth
With quick action after a tooth has been knocked out, it is possible your dentist that we will be able to reinsert and preserve your tooth.
Carefully pick up the tooth by the crown or the top, taking care not to touch the root, and carefully rinse it without scrubbing. If possible, reinsert the tooth in the socket. If you cannot, place the tooth in a small container of milk and get to us as soon as possible to increase the chances of saving your tooth.
Cracked or Chipped Tooth
If you have a very painful or serious fracture, clean your mouth with warm water and apply a cold compress to the outside of your face to reduce swelling. Take acetaminophen for the pain but avoid using a painkiller or numbing gel because it can damage your gums.
Abscessed Tooth
A dental abscess is a severe and potentially life-threatening condition in which a pocket of pus in the tooth has led to an infection. A tooth abscess may cause fever, tooth sensitivity to hot and cold, a persistent toothache, tender lymph nodes in your neck, swelling in the face, and a pimple-like bump on your gums near the infected tooth.
This condition is an emergency as the infection can spread into your jaw, surrounding tissue, and to other areas of the body. Before you come to Clínica Dental Champsaur, rinse your mouth with mild saltwater several times to reduce the pain and draw the pus to the surface.
Tooth, Teeth or Jaw Pain
If you are experiencing severe and lasting pain in your tooth or jaw, you must contact Clínica Dental Champsaur. This is especially true if the pain is accompanied by swelling, fever, a bad taste in your mouth or difficulty swallowing. These symptoms usually indicate an infection is present, and you’ll need a dentist to examine your mouth and provide proper treatment. You may have an abscessed tooth, which is an infection in the tooth’s pulp canal system. Treatment may require antibiotics, drainage of the infection or a root canal.
Current or New Patient
Clínica Dental Champsaur practices are happy to serve you if you are having a dental emergency in Panama whether you’re a current or new patient.
In most cases, we will be able to accommodate emergency walk-in appointments or offer a same-day appointment, however, next-day appointments are occasionally necessary.
Once your team has addressed your dental emergency, they will likely schedule a re-evaluation for existing patients of Clínica Dental Champsaur, or a comprehensive exam for new patients.
Call us at 261-6650 in case of dental emergencies in Panama