High Park Dental Care - Blog

As an emergency dentist serving the High Park community for over a decade, I've seen countless patients running through our doors in pain that could've been prevented. Here at High Park Dental Care, our emergency dental staff treat urgent cases often, with adequate care and attention, may never have reached crisis point. Today, I'm giving you the most prevalent avoidable dental emergencies we see.

Why Emergency Dentists See So Many Preventable Cases

When you're in pain with a toothache, finding an emergency dentist is your top priority. But most patients are surprised to learn that their dental emergency was not created overnight, but rather over time. As emergency dentists, we conservatively estimate that approximately 60% of urgent cases reflect prolonged neglect or delayed treatment.

Prevention is always less expensive—both money-wise and in terms of your body—than emergency treatment. Knowing the most prevalent preventable emergencies will allow you to sidestep the need for urgent care.

Cracked Teeth: Number One Cause for Emergency Dentist Appointments

One of the most common reasons patients visit an emergency dentist is for cracked or broken teeth. Although some breaks come from sudden trauma, many are the result of preventable factors.

How Emergency Dentists Fix Cracked Teeth

When fixing broken teeth, we first assess the extent of damage. Minor cracks may require bonding, but significant cracks typically require crowns or even extractions. Treatment then depends on whether or not the crack extends to the pulp or under the gumline.

Prevention Steps:

• Not chewing ice, hard candy, or anything else but food
• Using a custom-fitted mouthguard while participating in sport or grinding your teeth
• Getting grinding of the teeth (bruxism) treated by your dentist
• Routine dental exams to detect small cracks before they become a problem

Severe Infections: When You Need an Emergency Dentist Right Away

The most potentially dangerous but preventable dental emergency we see may be the one with severe infections. They can manifest as abscesses—pockets of infection filled with bacteria that lead to facial swelling, excruciating pain, and possibly systemic disease if neglected.

Emergency Dentist Response to Dental Infections

Dental infection treatment should not be put off. We typically drain the abscess, put you on meds, and fix the source—typically by doing a root canal or pulling it. Infections like that don't normally happen overnight; they are generally the result of untreated decay or gum disease.

Prevention Strategies:

• Never dismiss persistent toothaches or sensitivity
• Complete recommended cavity treatment promptly
• Maintain superb oral hygiene through regular brushing and flossing
• Schedule dental exams and cleanings regularly
• Have gum bleeding or recession addressed

Lost Fillings and Crowns: Common Emergency Dentist Scenarios

Lost or broken dental restorations are also a preventable emergency. When fillings or crowns fall out, they expose unprotected tooth structure and are extremely painful, prompting an immediate call to an emergency dentist.

How Emergency Dentists Restore Lost Restorations

When patients come in with missing fillings or crowns, we provide temporary or permanent replacements depending on the case. The majority of these cases, though, come in with evidence that the restoration was already compromised before it failed.

Prevention Strategies:

• Attend regular dental check-ups where your dentist will evaluate current restorations
• Avoid very sticky or hard foods with dental restorations
• Address grinding of teeth that will destroy restorations
• Don't delay replacement of worn or aging dental work
• Maintenance of restoration according to your dentist's advice

Why Emergency Dentists Deal with Wisdom Tooth Pain So Frequently

We often see patients with intense pain from impacted wisdom teeth. Although not all wisdom tooth problems are avoidable, a large percentage of emergency cases arise after patients disregard advice to have wisdom teeth extracted or overlook warning signs.

Emergency Dentist Solutions for Wisdom Tooth Pain

When patients come in with wisdom tooth emergencies, we typically provide pain relief, antibiotics if the patient is infected, and referral for extraction. But these painful events typically follow months of erratic pain that patients neglected.

Prevention Strategies:

• Finish recommended wisdom tooth extractions
• Don't neglect slight pressure or pain at the back of your mouth
• Attend regular dental visits where your dentist monitors wisdom tooth development
• Consult if you have partial eruption or difficulty in cleaning close to wisdom teeth

Trauma Situations: When You Simply Have to Visit an Emergency Dentist

While not all dental trauma is preventable, we see on a daily basis injuries that could have been avoided with good precautions. Dental injuries caused by sports are particularly common but entirely preventable.

Emergency Dentist Procedures for Dental Trauma

In the management of dental trauma, we attempt to salvage natural teeth as much as possible. For teeth that are avulsed, immediate therapy (within 30-60 minutes) significantly improves the prognosis. For chips and fractures, there are many restorative options depending on severity.

Prevention Measures:

• Wear specially customized mouthguards for contact sports and recreational activities
• Utilize seatbelts and appropriate safety equipment to prevent facial trauma
• Avoid using teeth as tools to open packages or bottles
• Address home hazards that can lead to falls or facial trauma

When to Call Your Emergency Dentist

Knowing when to call for emergency dental care can make small issues catastrophes. Call an emergency dentist immediately if you experience:

• Severe, persistent toothache
• Swelling of the face, gum, or jaw
• Loose or avulsed teeth
• Excessive bleeding from the mouth
• Severe dental infection with fever
• Broken teeth with exposed nerves

At High Park Dental Care, our team is committed to providing prompt emergency dental care when you need it most. However, we're even more committed to helping our patients avoid getting into emergencies in the first place with preventive care and education.

Remember, the best emergency dental care is the kind you never need. Regular dental visits, prompt attention to minor issues, and preventive practices can save you from needing to get urgent dental care.

Need an emergency dentist? Call us at 416-766-6383