An Emergency Dentist in Aurora CO is a professional who provides immediate dental treatment for patients. Depending on the type of problem, this treatment can include stopping bleeding, extracting a tooth, or pacifying severe pain.
Unlike most dental offices, an emergency dentist works nights and weekends. This allows them to service more people who need immediate care.
Tooth Dislodgement
Tooth dislodgement is a dental emergency that happens when a tooth is partially or fully disconnected from its socket. This can occur due to contact sports, rigorous physical activity or unforeseen accidents. It’s important to get to the dentist immediately after a tooth is knocked out or dislodged to reduce the risk of permanent damage, infection and dental decay.
It is advisable to place the dislodged tooth in Hank’s balanced salt solution or milk (do not place it in water because the cell structure could be damaged). You can also put it between the cheek and gums, but it’s not a good idea for children who might swallow it by accident.
Some problems, like losing a filling or a broken wire in braces, don’t need to be treated as emergencies. But it is essential to visit the dentist regularly for routine cleaning and brushing twice per day. This will prevent many common dental emergencies from occurring in the first place.
Knocked Out Tooth
A knocked out tooth is a dental emergency that may require the help of an endodontist to save it. The good news is that it’s usually re-implanted successfully, especially if the accident occurs within 30 minutes of the injury.
To give the tooth the best chance of surviving, the patient should keep it moist. If possible, the tooth should be placed back into its socket, but if this is not feasible then it should be kept between the cheek and gums or in milk or the patient’s own saliva. The patient should be sure to pick up the tooth by its crown, not its root.
The injured person should also call the dentist and ask to be seen as soon as possible. The dentist will cleanse the site to remove any debris and then re-insert the tooth. The dentist will place a splint to keep the tooth in place for several days. The dentist will also evaluate the tooth at intervals during this time to ensure that it heals well.
Broken Tooth
While your teeth are incredibly strong, they can break. Biting down on hard or cold objects, getting a blow to the mouth or gums, or having cavities can cause your tooth to chip or crack. The good news is that you can probably save a broken tooth by calling your dentist right away and booking an appointment.
Depending on the severity, your dentist will recommend a specific treatment. For example, if you have a hairline crack and aren’t experiencing pain, you may only need a crown to repair the damage.
However, a cracked or broken tooth that is causing severe pain, swelling of the gums, or bleeding will require immediate attention from your emergency dentist. The longer you wait, the worse the condition will become, which can lead to major infections in other parts of the body. In some cases, the tooth could even die. The first step in finding an emergency dentist in Aurora CO is to use a trusted dental referral website that offers access to dentists who have evening or weekend appointments.
Bleeding Gums
Bleeding gums can be a sign of many different dental problems, from minor issues that can be corrected with routine brushing and flossing to serious medical conditions like severe gum disease. If you have bleeding gums, immediately hold a clean piece of gauze against the area to stop the blood flow. If the bleeding doesn’t stop, go to the emergency room for stitches if needed.
Bleeding during a brushing or flossing session is normal, but if your gums are bleeding randomly or regularly when no pressure is applied to them, it could be a sign of gingivitis, the early stages of periodontal disease. If you have gum disease, the dentist will perform a deep cleaning or recommend a periodontist to treat your condition.
Gum disease can be prevented with regular brushing and flossing, proper diet and nutrition, avoiding smoking and stress, and getting routine dental care every 6 months. Your dentist will check for gum disease during each visit and screen for potential risk factors such as pregnancy or vitamin deficiency.