In the dental office, patients come in with an array of problems that they need help with, but some are certainly more common than others. Check out the list below for three of the main emergencies that we often come across at our dental practice.
Abscess
Many patients come into the office with an abscessed tooth. It could have started as a cavity, but it eventually got worse.
If the cavity started getting bigger and the patient was not aware of what was going on, bacteria may have made its ways into the hole and down into the gums. As a result of the bacteria, an infection developed.
Although treatment varies, patients will need to come to the office to have the infected tissue removed. A root canal may then be necessary to prevent any additional bacteria from getting into the damaged part of the tooth.
Fractured Tooth
Believe it or not, patients break teeth more often than most people realize. Different things happen that can lead to tooth fractures, such as car accidents, sports-related injuries or falls. As a result, the patient is left with a chipped tooth that does not look good.
Patients will need to come to the office for a filling. The color of the filling will closely match the original tooth color. It gets bonded into place so that the fracture is no longer noticeable.
Missing Tooth
Unfortunately, adult teeth can fall out of the mouth. Sometimes they are knocked out during accidents, but they may fall out due to severe decay and gum disease. The treatment will vary from patient to patient. An assessment may be necessary to determine if the patient is a good candidate for a dental implant.
A dental implant would be the best option for eligible candidates because it replaces the original tooth and keeps the gums protected. If it were not for the implant, the gums would constantly be exposed to bacteria.
These are three of the most common dental emergencies. Although they may be a bit severe, treatment is available at the dental office.