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A dental emergency refers to any issue that involves the teeth and supporting tissues and requires immediate attention. Dental health is crucial to our general body health. When your mouth has an issue, important things like eating, drinking, talking, or even smiling become hard. A dental emergency may or may not involve pain. When you visit emergency dentists in Calgary, SW, they will determine the type and cause of the problem and treat it appropriately.

9 Types of Dental Emergencies

• Pain

Pain is the body’s way of alerting you to a problem in the area that hurts. The degree of pain a patient experiences determines the severity of the dental emergency. The patient may experience pain when biting down. This pain may be caused by; an abscess, a cracked tooth, or teeth grinding. An ice pack placed on the sensitive area and some pain-reducing medication will ease the pain as you rush to the dentist.

• Swelling

Swelling in the mouth indicates a severe dental infection requiring immediate medical attention. The patient must stay in an upright position and take fluids that keep him hydrated.

• Knocked out tooth

A knocked-out tooth should be positioned back in the mouth within 30 minutes. Once a tooth is knocked out of the mouth, it should be retrieved immediately. If possible, you can rinse the dirt off and place it back in the mouth as it was previously. If not, it should be put in a glass of milk to keep it moist until the dentist can put it back.

• Abscessed gums

An abscess indicates a bacterial infection in the gums or tooth. An abscess may look like a whitish, red, clear, or yellow pimple on the gum. It should not be popped but rushed to the dentist immediately. An abscess to the tooth will require drainage, a root canal, or antibiotics.

• Soft tissue injury

The tongue or lips may be bitten or cut severely during an accident. The area should be cleaned gently with some water if possible before a visit to the dentist. The dentist will examine the mouth to determine whether there is a further injury to the jaw, gums, or teeth.

• Mouth sores

Painful mouth sores are a dental emergency. Canker sores or sores caused by foot, hand, and mouth disease should be treated immediately. Gum diseases may also cause sores to develop in the oral cavity.

• Infections

Infections in the mouth are a cause to rush to the dentist since they require medical attention to heal.

• Bleeding

Bleeding from the mouth may be an indication of periodontal disease. If your saliva has some traces of blood, it may be a sign of cancer or severe gum disease.

• Tooth sensitivity

Extreme temperatures or other underlying issues may cause tooth sensitivity. The patient may have extreme sensations on the teeth or tooth when they bite or chew certain foods. After examination, the dentist may prescribe toothpaste that reduces teeth sensitivity.

• Broken tooth

A tooth that is slightly chipped does not constitute a dental emergency. You schedule an appointment at your convenience. A tooth that has broken and a large portion of it falls off may cause pain and bleeding. This will require a prompt visit to the dentist. Do not bite or chew on the tooth before seeing the dentist.

Steps to Take When in Need of Emergency Dental Care

Contact your dentist immediately. If they are not available, you can look up an emergency dentist in Calgary, SW. This dentist will advise you on how to take care of your oral health before reaching the dental clinic.

• Give as much detail as possible concerning the dental emergency.
• Use a cold compress to reduce swelling in the area.
• Take some pain-relieving medication if the pain is too much.
• Rinse the mouth with clean water or non-alcoholic mouth wash.
• Keep the knocked-out tooth moist by putting it in milk or placing it in your mouth.

Tips to Minimize a Dental Emergency

Do not chew hard candy, ice, popcorn kernels, or anything that might crack or break your teeth.

• When taking part in recreational activities, put on a mouthguard.
• Cut things using a pair of a cutting tool, not your teeth.
• Regular dental care should be observed.

Make regular visits to My Dental Clinic when you need standard dental services.

Healthy teeth and gums indicate more than attractive smiles. It reflects on your overall general health, confidence and boosts your sense of well-being. Proper oral hygiene begins from home, at a tender age, and can help protect your child’s teeth from cavities and the possibility of gum disease.

Still, there is some confusion between the functions of family and general dentists. Many might think a family dentist only serves families with children. However, you don’t need to have children to use a family dentist.

The family dentist has the following everyday responsibilities: checking your gum health, cleaning excess tartar and plaque buildup, filling cavities, and controlling tooth decay.

What Procedures Do A Family Dentist Offer?

Sometimes, your family dentist can conduct a radiograph to check for certain problems such as dental cavities, jaw problems, and several other oral issues. If they find a cavity, your family dentist has the mandate to give you a dental filling to fill the affected area.

If your cavity worsens unexpectedly, you might need a more complex procedure like a root canal, dental crown treatment of a dental implant.

Sometimes, an x-ray is required. The family dentist in South West Calgary ensures that the X-ray’s radiation effects are minimal to children. The dentist, therefore, uses lead aprons on the child and high-speed film.

Additionally, the family dentist has a significant role in guiding parents towards helping their children achieve better oral hygiene.

At What Age Should Your Child First See a Family Dentist?

The best duration to acquaint your child with a family dentist is in six months after birth. It’s also acceptable if you take them to a family dentist on their first birthday.

Children’s needs are different from adult needs. You need to ensure that the dentist you find is good with children. This is if you don’t want to use a pediatrist.

Regarding children, appointments for checkups need to be made early as it determines if their teeth are developing correctly. Poorly developing teeth will lead to eating, speech, and aesthetic problems in the future.

The family dentist in SW Calgary checks for tooth eruption problems and tooth growth patterns. They also instruct how you can care for the child’s teeth and gums while providing dietary advice. A family dentist also advises on instructions concerning the event of a dental emergency.

How Do Family Dentists Differ from Pediatric Dentists?

Comparing the two, pediatric dentistry only focuses on infants and children. Adolescent children can still see a pediatric dentist for pediatric services. However, once they attain adulthood, they are subject to treatment from different dentists like family and general dentists.

Pediatric dentists have, in addition to the regular dental education, 2 -3 years of training, special to meet children’s needs. They learn how to work with children effectively and can also professionally handle children with special needs.

Why opt for Family Dentistry?

Better Oral Hygiene

How healthy your smile is is a reflection of your oral health practices. Practicing oral hygiene as a family through daily brushing and flossing helps clear off tartar and plaque from your teeth surfaces making your smiles look brighter. If your children learn these habits from an early age, it eliminates the risk of future dental problems.

Snacking

Snacking is perhaps the biggest enemy to the mouth, especially for children. Sugar from snacks becomes acid when it meets plaque, which erodes the enamel. Visiting the family dental offices near you provides crucial information on what types of food and drinks you should consume.

This helps you manage the intake of extra sugary snacks and drinks, which is beneficial to your teeth.

Fluoride

The enamel gets weak through the acidic effects that occur when sugars on the plaque ferment. It’s therefore essential to treat your teeth with enough fluoride. Ask My Dental Clinic for the best fluoride treatment plan for your family.

Checkups

Regular visits to the dental offices near you are vital in maintaining good oral health. Experts recommend that you schedule two dental appointments annually. Professional dentists can easily detect problems in the early stages before they advance into something serious. An experienced family dentist will also treat the mouth areas that you don’t reach through regular brushing.