Emergency Dentist: Soft Tissue Injuries

What Do I Do While I Am Waiting For Care?

If You’re Experiencing a Severe Dental Trauma That Includes the Following, You Should Go to the Nearest Hospital Emergency Room

• Bleeding that won’t stop
• Excessive pain, which isn’t helped with over-the-counter pain medication
• Suspicion of broken or fractured bones in the face 

To Assist With the Pain While You’re Waiting To See an Emergency Dentist, Try the Following

• Apply a cold compress to reduce swelling
• Take over-the-counter pain relievers
• Rinse your mouth with warm salt water
• Use a piece of gauze for any bleeding 

If You’ve Experienced a Knocked-Out Tooth or a Broken/Chipped Tooth

• For a knocked-out tooth: Locate the tooth and rinse it off with water — don’t touch the root, then place the tooth back into the socket, if you can. If it doesn’t fit back into your socket, keep the tooth inside your cheek to keep it moist. Seek emergency dental care as soon as possible. The dentist may be able to reimplant the tooth if you rush (usually within 30-40 minutes).
• For chipped teeth: Try to locate the missing pieces. Call the dentist. 

What Are The Differences Between Tooth Sensitivity, Damaged Teeth, And Soft Tissue Injuries?

When distinguishing between mild dental discomfort and a real dental emergency, it can be difficult to know if you need to seek emergency dental care or if you can wait and see a general dentist. Here are some things to consider:

Tooth Sensitivity 

According to the Cleveland Clinic, sensitive teeth tend to be caused by the outermost layer of your teeth (dentin) wearing out or the gums beginning to recede. Generally, this isn’t a huge cause for concern and results from normal wear and tear. However, sensitive teeth can also be a symptom of a cracked tooth, gum disease, or cavities. In any case, it’s best to make a dental appointment to ensure nothing is wrong and to discuss your options for reducing sensitivity. 

Broken or Chipped Tooth 

The Cleveland Clinic notes that although a broken or chipped tooth is more common with age, it can happen to anyone. Some dental cracks may not even cause symptoms but can still risk an infection. Therefore, if you see or are suspicious of a crack or chip in a tooth, it’s best to make a dentist appointment. This is also why it is best to see your dentist at least once a year to ensure there aren’t any hairline cracks you haven’t noticed.

Symptoms of a cracked tooth may include:

• Pain with chewing or biting
• Irregular pain in a tooth
• Sensitivity to temperature and sweets
• Swelling around a specific tooth/teeth 

Soft Tissue Injury 

Dental trauma caused by car accidents, sports injuries, falls, fights, etc., can potentially cause soft tissue injuries that can be severe. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), soft tissue damage requires immediate medical/dental care to stop excessive bleeding, alleviate pain, reduce the risk of infection, and prevent swelling that may become severe enough to block the airway.

Sources:

Dental Trauma. (2023).
Fractured Tooth (Cracked Tooth). (2021).
Hämmerle, C. (2014). Biology of soft tissue wound healing and regeneration–consensus report of Group 1 of the 10th European Workshop on Periodontology.
Teeth Sensitivity. (2022).
What Constitutes a Dental Emergency? (2021).