Who are Emergency dentists?

Tracking down a dentist during the odd hours incase of an emergency is a difficult task. Finding the right address of a dentist who stays nearby is not that easy. To help people during the emergencies, special dentists known as Emergency dentists are available. These dentists will be available twenty four hours of the entire week.

How to find a dentist who offers emergency dental care?

It is always a better option to find the details of an emergency dentist near your locality in advance. Always make sure that you carry his contact number. During emergencies you need not struggle to find one. You can find the details of the emergency dentists in the local yellow pages. You can also use internet to carry on your research. There are special Emergency dental care centers available. You can also contact them.

What are the immediate steps to be taken before approaching an emergency dentist?

Dental emergencies must be handled very carefully. A simple mistake may cost you a tooth. Certain steps must be taken during these emergencies to prevent the complete loss of the teeth. These steps depend on the type of the dental emergency. Different types of dental emergencies are

During a Knocked-Out Tooth or avulsed tooth: Most frequently occurring accident is the falling of the teeth from the mouth because of an injury. This condition is termed as Knocked-Out Tooth or Avulsed tooth. Such accidents are mostly encountered by the children and the sports men. The fallen tooth can be effectively replaced if proper steps are taken which include

- Clean the tooth under the running water and try replacing it in its position as soon as possible. Sometimes, the reattachment will occur automatically if this procedure is performed within 30 minutes. Try consulting an emergency dentist as soon as possible.

- The tooth is fixed to the gums with the help of a thin layer of cells called periodontal ligament. This layer plays a vital role during the reattachment process. If these cells die then the tooth cannot be replaced. So, proper steps must be taken to keep these cells alive. If you find it difficult to replace the tooth in its position then simply take the tooth to the dentist by preserving it in milk or water.

- While transporting the tooth, make sure that the periodontal ligament is not crushed. Measures must be taken to see that these cells are not dehydrated either.

- Do not wrap the tooth in a tissue or handkerchief. The cells may die due to dehydration. 

During a Fractured jaw: Stop the jaw movements immediately when it is fractured. This can also be done by tying a piece of cloth around the jaw. Rush to a nearby emergency dentist as soon as possible.

During an Abscess tooth: An abscessed tooth occurs because of the severe infection in the tooth or the gum line. The most common symptoms are severe pain, swelling and discharge of pus, loose tooth, drainage of pus into the mouth, fever, tender neck lymph nodes and the inability to fully open or close the mouth (trismus). An emergency dentist must be consulted immediately to prevent further infection. Root canal treatment or tooth extraction are performed incase of severe infection.

During a Chipped, loosened tooth or broken tooth: Under such conditions, wash your mouth with the help of warm water. To prevent swelling, use a cold compress on the injury. The broken part must be taken to the dentist without fail. Sometimes it is possible to join the fragments.

During the loosening of a crown or a filling: If either a crown or a filling is loosened accidentally then you can use an emergency dental kit available in the market to replace them temporarily. Contact an emergency dentist as soon as possible.