Emergency Dentistry: What to Do in a Dental Emergency

Comfy Saturday Morning In Trouble

It was meant to be a typical Saturday morning—slow, with a mug of piping hot brew, a lazy day stretching out in front of me. It was the perfect kind of lazy day, where I had no plans, no chores, no appointments, just time to relax. However, that all shifted in the blink of an eye; I took a bite of my toast and experienced a radiant jolt of pain coursing through my jaw. This was more than just a mere discomfort; it was a deep-seated, pulsing pain that felt permanent as it flowed through my entire head. It was my first dental emergency, though.

The Unexpected Pain

I froze, my jaw clenched from the pain. It was too much, and for a brief instant, my thoughts were in disarray. My mind raced with questions. What was happening? Was this simply a case of having a toothache or something more alarming? Could I lose my tooth? Then I started to panic, reaching for the bottle of painkillers on the countertop. Swallowed a handful and hoped they would ease my suffering. But much to my chagrin, the pain hardly lessened. If anything,  it seemed to worsen.

My mind was elsewhere, as my mouth burned with migraine pain, and all my thoughts were on the Kristins. My anticipation of the toast was laid out before me, cold and unappetising. I felt like I needed to act, but had no clue in which way. A sense of desperation started to set in. I grabbed my phone and entered “Emergency dentist near me” in the search bar.

Seeking Immediate Help

I immediately found a clinic that had urgent dental care. I quickly picked up the phone and called the number. I could hardly speak when the receptionist picked up; my voice trembled with pain. She responded calmly with questions about my symptoms, then instructed me to gargle with warm salt water as I traveled to their office across town. I nodded distractedly, trying to keep my mind from spinning. It was like, okay, rinsing with salt water — was that doing anything? However, I did it anyway, in the hope that my heart would take a break for a moment.

It felt like an eon driving to the clinic. I felt each bump in the road all too well and was barely able to hold my eyes on the road. After all my waiting, I was seated in a chair almost instantly. The dentist, a poised and professional woman, immediately got to work. After a few minutes and an X-ray, she delivered the verdict: cracked molar. It was a crack that he had not seen and which had exposed the nerve: it was the nerve that was giving him the pain, the pain of death.

The Verdict: A Fractured Tooth

I was in shock. A cracked tooth? How could that happen? I had no memory of biting down on something hard, yet now I was staring at one of the worst dental emergencies a person could face. The dentist further elaborated on the seriousness of the situation. And if you don’t receive treatment, it can get worse and may even result in an infection or require the extraction of the tooth. I had two options: I could fill it temporarily to manage the pain until I could get a crown placed, or I could get an immediate root canal to fix the problem. The pain was so bad that I got a root canal.

The Root Canal Procedure

The whole process was surprisingly less scary than I thought. The dentist used anesthesia to numb the area — it wasn’t long before I felt nothing. An hour later, the worst of the pain faded away, and I could at least breathe. But the thumping,  inescapable pain that had filled my mind for the past few hours was lost. Not exactly a walk in the park, but at least it affirmed I did the right thing.

What We Learned from the Emergency

Those bitter lessons from that fateful Saturday morning helped me redefine my relationship with dental health. I had no idea what to do in the event of a dental emergency. Amidst my panic, I had lessons to learn, ones I would not forget. Honestly, the number one thing I knew was that if you ever have any dental emergency, you need to move quickly. The earlier you visit a medical care professional, the higher the chances of saving your tooth and avoiding problems. I picked up a couple of practical first-aid tips that can make all the difference when the going gets tough.

For example, in the case of a knocked-out tooth, saving it in milk increases the likelihood of successful reinsertion. If you have a cracked tooth, use dental wax or sugar-free gum to cover it temporarily, until you can reach a dentist. Cold compress and over-the-counter painkiller can help cope with the acute pain of considerable dental pain before the treatment opportunity. On the other hand, slow inflammation of the gums accompanied by fever must be treated as a dental emergency, as it indicates an abscess that requires drainage.

Why Regular Dental Checkups Should Be a Priority

I also came to realize that if I had had my dental checkup at regular intervals, my situation would have been different. It turned out that there was a minor crack in my molar that went undetected and got worse, resulting in an emergency I had to deal with. Regular dentist visits, whether for routine cleanings or consultations with a cosmetic dentist, are essential in nipping these little issues in the bud before they become something more grave. A cosmetic dentist can help address not just the function but also the aesthetic aspects of your teeth, ensuring that any minor imperfections are caught early and treated appropriately.

Moving Forward With Proactive Dental Care

I take my dental care way more seriously since then! I never miss my regular cleanings, and I make sure to stay on top of my oral health. My family also knows what to do in the event of a dental emergency. I have emergency dentist contacts saved in my phone, and a dental first-aid kit I carry around with me at all times for emergencies. Having learned about the nearest 24-hour dentist in my area has been reassuring; however, I know aid is never far off.

A Life-Changing Lesson

I learned my lesson that painful morning, the hard way, because that day was a real wake-up call, and the emergency dentistry business is no joke; take care of those pearly whites, people! Not that it is the life anyone anticipates handling, but if you ever are in a similar circumstance, do not wait. Get help right away, and remember — time is of the essence when it comes to saving your smile.