What Constitutes a Dental Emergency?
A dental emergency can easily be described as any abnormal
oral condition that causes pain or concern. Most often, it takes the form of an injury to the teeth, gums or jaw. In addition
to injuries, an abscess, toothache or infection can cause pain, swelling or fever.
Any of these conditions require at
the very least, an emergency phone call to the dentist:
- Toothache
- Abscess
- Swelling
- A knocked
out tooth
- Fractured or chipped tooth
- Cut lip or gums
- Jaw injury
How to Prevent Dental Injuries
Most toothaches can be prevents with good preventive care which means regular
visits to the dental office. Athletic individuals can prevent most sports injuries by wearing mouth guards. Motorcyclists
should select quality, full-coverage helmets. In-line skaters and bicyclers should also wear approved helmets. Look for
the ANSI (American National Standards Institute) or SNELL certification labels on all types of helmets.
Young children
can be protected from injury by always securing them in a car seat. Take steps to child-proof your home to prevent falls
by hiding loose electrical cords and covering or padding things such as brick fireplace hearths, sharp stair edges and dangerous
furniture. And last but not least, everyone should wear a seat belt anytime they ride in a vehicle.
