Emergency Services: Tooth Aches
Imagine if you are experiencing severe pain around one of your molars, enough to keep you awake at night. Or you have tooth pain from knocked out (avulsed) teeth, and you don’t know how you’re going to make it through the day.
Suffering from a tooth trauma can be an extremely agonizing experience. Dental emergencies can occur at any time and you may be hesitant to go for treatment. Seek emergency care with FrontLine ER as soon as possible. We are prepared and equipped for any type of dental emergency be it day or night, we are on standby to advise and treat you.
We at FrontLine ER want to give you some tips on how to deal with a toothache or tooth trauma so you can be as comfortable as possible.
What could cause a severe toothache?
There are many reasons you could suffer from a toothache, these are just a few:
• The eruption of a tooth through the gums. These are usually wisdom (third molars) teeth or the presence of misaligned or impacted molars.
• Temporomandibular Joint Disorder is a condition where the joint connecting the skull and the lower jaw is inflamed.
• Any sort of infection in the gums or the root that can cause tooth decay or cavities. Dental work, such as crowns or root canals that may have damaged fillings.
• Dental injury from accidental falls, car accidents, or sporting accidents.
• Bruxism which can lead to tooth fracture thus causing pain.
When Your Dentist Is Not Available
There are dental emergencies that may not be considered as life-threatening, but they still require immediate care. Most toothache emergencies don’t always occur during the day when your dentist’s office is open. In such instances, visit the FrontLine ER, our emergency physicians are well rounded and can attend to any kind of emergency including dental treatment.
Emergency Medical Treatment
• Dental Abscesses
Emergencies like severe teeth abscesses can be dangerous. Toothaches that result from abscess formation cannot be relieved by a simple painkiller; you need to go to an emergency room. An abscess may require an additional antibiotic treatment.
• Injuries Involving Periodontal Tissues
Damaged tooth is repositioned back into tooth socket after the surface has been cleaned with saline. A splint is then applied and monitored later for further treatment. If the tooth is displaced, the tooth may be left to allow for a spontaneous eruption on its own. However, if the damage is severe, then orthodontic reposition or surgical repositioning is needed.
• Injuries to the Hard Dental Tissues and the Pulp
There are a number of treatment options for a root and crown fracture depending on the clinical findings. Subject to the location of the fracture, the loose segments are stabilized by cementing them into place if still available. If not then a supragingival restoration is done. In case the root of the tooth is still forming, pulp capping, partial or coronal pulpotomy can be performed.
• Restorative Emergencies
During the emergency appointment, a set of radiographs is taken to evaluate any underlying caries, bone loss or possible abscess. The examination results will provide options on the tooth’s prognosis, which may include extraction, a new restoration, or root canal. The diagnosis includes the tooth’s strength and ability to be restored.
The management of such emergencies may include cleaning all the residues to carefully look at any unidentified caries or fractures. There are specific details that need to be assessed such as margins, gingivae and contact points; before the crown can be re-cemented. Stronger cement may be needed particularly in cases of heavy occlusal forces.
If the underlying structure has become deficient due to dental cavities, an immediate restoration of the abutment may be essential. Treatment plans can also differ depending on the addition of a root canal treatment or a temporary crown.
• Acute Oral Medical and Surgical Conditions
Subsequent to a tooth extraction, a blood clot may form inadequately in the socket thus causing a painful infection known as a ‘dry socket’ or post-extraction pain and infection. Radiography may be performed and the images used to determine if there is residual root or bony sequestrum, which could be the main cause of the infection.
It is characterized by a rancid odor and penetrating pain that extends to the ear and neck. This condition can be treated by watering the socket with chlorhexidine or warm saline to remove any remains. Next, the socket is dressed with iodoform paraffin paste and lidocaine gel on gauze to protect the socket from painful stimulants.
Toothaches can seem very common but unfortunately, it can also be a sign of a more alarming health concern. Impending heart disease or nerve disorders can sometimes show themselves as tooth, jaw, or ear pain. FrontLine ER recommends that patients suffering from any kind of prolonged toothache or related symptoms of an infected tooth, to seek out professional advice by getting treatment as soon as possible.
