Additional Dental Emergencies
There are other situations not as common but are still regarded as dental emergencies. They involve soft tissue, your jaw or face. It’s still important that you see your dentist right away.
You have a soft tissue injury.
The lips, gums, tongue, and the inside of the cheeks are referred to as the soft tissues of the mouth. If there is a laceration, tear, or puncture on any of these structures, it can be painful or may bleed. Sometimes you wouldn’t know which is injured and bleeding from the mouth can cause some fright. It can be caused by a blow or sharp object, or you simply bit your tongue or lip. Some cases require a dentist or the hospital emergency room. If you bite your tongue or lip, just clean with warm water and apply pressure on the area. If bleeding is excessive and does not stop, head for the emergency room right away or the nearest dentist.
You think you broke your jaw.
If you think your jaw is broken, you can first apply cold compresses to the area to control the swelling. You can stabilize it with a bandage that wraps around from under the chin and over your head. It’s important to keep it in place firmly, but not too tight, to avoid further movement. Go to your dentist or to a hospital emergency room. Sometimes a fracture of the jaw can heal on its own; in other cases, it may require surgery. Proper wiring or wiring with screws and plates can keep the jaw in place while it heals. It may take one to two months to recover.
You have an object stuck in your mouth.
Such objects can get between your teeth, under the gums, the floor of the mouth, or somewhere near or past your esophagus. It can be the tiniest thing like a piece of wire, pin, fish thorn, chicken bone, part of a seed, or a piece of plastic. If lodged between the teeth try to dislodge it using dental floss but not with any sharp instrument. If the object still cannot be removed, especially if it is cutting into soft tissue, and hence, painful, see your dentist promptly.
You have facial swelling.
Facial swelling can have a myriad of causes. It can be caused by an abscessed tooth, allergies, pericoronitis, salivary gland tumor, a post-dental procedure, among others. When facial swelling occurs and has dental implications, see your dentist right away. It’s important that the cause be determined promptly so that treatment is started. Likewise, if the swelling is due to infection, it can spread to other parts of the face, including the jaw.
SourceEmergency Dental Care in Lynnwood
When you encounter any of the above situations, consider them as dental emergencies. Give our Lynnwood dentist a call and let’s schedule a visit right away.
