DENTAL EMERGENCY

Any condition that causes discomfort in your teeth and supporting tissues can be characterized as dental emergency and require immediate concern and treatment.

Paradoxically, dental emergency does not always involve pain although it is a common signal that alarms people, some dental emergencies are painless and still require immediate management.

PAIN Most common issue when people seek dental treatment. Pain originating in oral cavity can be:

  • ODONTOGENIC PAIN
    Pain is associated with teeth and peri-radicular area. Initially, it is sharp continuous and radiating in nature.
    In such condition all you need is to seek help of dentist as soon as possible. Dentist will take an x-ray and will explain you the treatment accordingly.
  • NON ODONTOGENIC:
    Pain is associated with other oro-facial tissues.
    It is generally difficult to diagnose and vary in severity.
  • TRAUMA:
    Trauma refers to injury to hard and soft tissues in the oral cavity and the face.
    Generally, more common in children but can occur at any age. It also requires immediate treatment.
  • OROFACIAL SWELLING:
    Abnormal enlargement of facial tissue caused by infection, inflammation or trauma.
    It can be intraoral or extraoral.
    It should be treated as soon as possible as it can be a cause of severe infection.

CELLULITIS:

Bacterial infection in oro-facial region leads to formation of abscess and swelling.

Symptom:

  • Pain
  • Trismus
  • Cervical lymphadenopathy
  • Pyrexia
  • Malaise

It requires urgent management since it has serious systemic complications.

DRY SOCKET:

A painful infection develops following extraction if the clot forms inadequately or it is broken down. It is characterized by putrid odour and intense pain radiating to neck and ear.

HEMMORHAGE:

It can occur spontaneously in oro- facial region from gingival tissue as a result of bleeding disorder or any haematological abnormality. Trauma can also cause haemmorhage.

PERICORONITIS:

It is inflammation surrounding partially erupted tooth, occurring most commonly around third molar.

TRISMUS:

Reduced mouth opening due to muscle spasm. Trismus can occur as a result of complicated extraction, temporomandibular joint disorder, infection or impaction.

RECURRENT APTHOUS ULCER:

Some ulcers heal on its own and does not require any treatment.   However if occurrence of ulcer is recurrent it requires immediate concern as it can be malignant also.

More common in females. It requires medical management as soon as  possible.

TEMPOROMANDIBULAR DISORDER:

It is characterized by pain and dysfunction of jaw joint and muscles that control jaw movement.

SOME OTHER COMMON EMERGENCIES:

Lost or broken filling

Broken denture

Fracture of porcelain veneer

Entrapment of foreign body in the oral tissues

 

Dental emergencies can happen to anyone at any time regardless of age and sex. It can be at childhood or adulthood or at old age.  There is no need to panic. All you need is keep calm and visit your dentist as soon as possible.

We are here to help you with any of these problems and any queries regarding any dental emergency.