Just like other parts of the body, the mouth is subject to accidents. Sometimes as minor as biting your tongue, and other times serious enough to require professional care.
Dental emergencies can be just as frightening as medical emergencies. Pain and stress can cause trouble thinking clearly. But knowing how to handle a dental emergency, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, can help us remain calm and in control.
Educate yourself before you’re in the midst of a dental emergency for the best possible outcome. Learn what a dental emergency is and how to handle it during a pandemic.
The CDC is recommending that routine dental care visits dentist be postponed. Routine dental visits are when you go to the dentist but don’t have pain or a problem to correct. The American Dental Association (ADA) is also advising dentists to limit appointments to urgent and emergency procedures.
● Regular visits for exams, cleanings, and x-rays
● Regular visits for braces
● Removal of teeth that aren’t painful
● Treatment of cavities that aren’t painful
● Teeth whitening and other cosmetic procedures
● Bleeding that doesn’t stop
● Painful swelling in or around your mouth
● Pain in a tooth, teeth, or jawbone
● Gum infection with pain or swelling
● After surgery treatment (dressing change, stitch removal)
● Broken or knocked out tooth
● Denture adjustment for people receiving radiation or other treatment for cancer
● Snipping or adjusting wire of braces that hurts your check or gums
● Biopsy of abnormal tissue
Healthcare facilities are especially busy and susceptible to impacts from the pandemic, so visiting an emergency room should be used if you experience:
● Head or eye injury
● Concussion/confusion
● Broken bones and dislocated joints
● Severe cuts that may require stitches
● Facial lacerations
Familiarity with how to handle a dental emergency will help you or someone you love to recover more quickly and easily.
For more information on maintaining your oral health during a pandemic, check out our blog.