Since any damage to your teeth or gums can have serious long-term implications, you should visit an emergency dentist as soon as possible if you ever experience a dental emergency. A dental emergency is any situation that requires immediate medical attention to prevent further injury, alleviate unbearable pain, or save a tooth. Contact Kansas City Dental Implants and Oral Surgery immediately during a dental emergency to schedule a same-day appointment. As the largest oral surgery practice in the Kansas City area, we’ve built a reputation for our dedication to our patients, concierge-level service, and skill in handling dental emergencies.

What Is Considered a Dental Emergency?

People should have access to quality oral and dental treatment whenever they have a dental emergency; hence emergency dental services are crucial. Some of the most common situations requiring emergency dental care are listed below.

  • Severe Toothache – It’s common for food to become stuck between teeth, resulting in pain. If you’re experiencing a severe toothache, try the following. First, try rinsing your mouth with warm water to remove debris. After that, carefully floss your teeth to remove any leftover food. If this doesn’t help, contact us as soon as possible to schedule an appointment to resolve the issue before it worsens.
  • Knocked-Out Tooth – If you lose a tooth due to trauma, you must receive treatment within half an hour of the incident. If you accidentally lose a tooth, pick it up by the crown (chewing surface) and not the roots. As we try to reinsert the tooth, you may risk damaging it if you touch the roots. Carefully rinse the tooth and try to place it back in your socket. If that doesn’t work, put some clean gauze over the tooth and soak it in milk. This will prevent your tooth from drying out and cracking.
  • Broken, Cracked, or Chipped Tooth – The same goes for a tooth that has been chipped, cracked, or fractured; it’s an emergency that needs to be dealt with immediately. If this happens, your first priority should be to salvage as much of the tooth fragments as possible. The next step is to thoroughly clean the afflicted area by rinsing the mouth with warm water. Swelling can be reduced by using a cold compress on the face.
  • Loose Tooth – Tooth loss could be the result of several different issues. A loose tooth could result from gum recession, bone loss in the jaw, or even the loss of a tooth or teeth in the past. The loosening of a tooth can also be caused by trauma to the face or mouth. If you have a loose tooth, please consult with our emergency dentist to determine the underlying problem.
  • Dental Abscess – An abscess in the tooth is a pus-filled pocket caused by an infection. This infection can develop in response to a neglected cavity, a tooth injury, or the presence of outdated dental work. We will first drain your abscess to help get rid of the infection. Depending on how severe the infection is, we may recommend a root canal, tooth extraction, or scaling and root planning. Complications from untreated dental abscesses are sometimes fatal. So make sure to schedule an appointment with us as soon as possible.
  • Infections – Symptoms of an infection include redness, pain, and swelling around the tooth. Infections typically manifest around the tooth root or in the gaps between teeth and gums. Infections, if left untreated, can cause damage to adjacent tissues and teeth. If you think you have an infection, rinse your mouth with salt water and give us a call right away.
  • Injuries to Tongue, Cheeks, Gums, or Lips – When certain areas of the mouth are damaged, it can cause severe bleeding. Stop the bleeding by applying gauze or a wet tea bag to the wound after rinsing the mouth with salt water. Make sure to get in touch with us right away to schedule an emergency appointment.
  • Fractured Jawbone – The jawbone (mandible), which begins at the chin and ends just below the ear, is another common location for facial fractures. Let’s say you have bruises, swelling, and pain along your jaw or behind your ear, difficulty opening or shutting your mouth, double vision, numbness in your face and jaw, swollen eyelids, and sunken eyes; you need to see an emergency dentist right away.
  • Injury to Temporomandibular Joints (TMJ) – Emergency treatment of the jaw joint, which connects the upper and lower jaws, is crucial in the event of damage. Get immediate medical assistance if you think you may have had a jaw injury.

If you have a dental emergency that isn’t listed above, please call us right away to ask questions or set up an appointment. Please let us know how we may be of service to you.

Benefits of Emergency Dental Care

The following are a few of the many advantages of going to an emergency dentist:

  • Preventing tooth loss
  • Relieving pain
  • Restoring oral function
  • Lowering the risk of an oral infection
  • Preventing further complications
  • Saving time and money

Some patients may put off getting emergency dental care because they fear they cannot afford it, but this can have dire consequences for their oral and overall health and increase their dental costs in the long run.

You’re in Good Hands With Us

In many cases, having access to quality emergency dental care is a lifesaver. Emergency dental care is essential when an unexpected dental issue arises. This will aid in your speedy recovery so that you can get back to living your life to the fullest as soon as possible. At Kansas City Dental Implants and Oral Surgery, you can rest assured that you will receive care of the highest caliber from highly qualified physicians.