It seems to happen just out of the blue!  It could be anything at all from your child taking a fall from a bike and knocking out a tooth to a late night stabbing pain in your mouth.  And it always seems to be accompanied by severe pain!  The dreaded dental emergency has happened!  Too often we are unprepared to deal with a dental emergency but by having a basic knowledge of first aid procedures we can become better prepared to deal with something happening to our teeth or those of someone we care about.  Dental emergencies while less common than other types of emergency need to be dealt with quickly both for the comfort of the patient and to insure the best results possible for the involved teeth.

 A dental emergency is classified as a type of medical emergency that involves the teeth or gums.  This can include a broken tooth or a tooth that has been completely knocked out.  Having a toothache is also considered a dental emergency.   One of the most common kinds of dental emergency for adults is an abscessed tooth.   This is a tooth that has inflammation and/or infection in the bone and/or the tooth's canals. Also included in a dental emergency category is having a fractured jaw since this can severely impact all the teeth in the mouth. All of these dental emergencies can be treated with first aid at home but must be seen by a dentist for complete treatment.

 Even minor dental emergencies can be indicated with a severe amount of pain. Pain in the mouth at all signals a problem that could worsen with time so it is imperative that treatment is sought immediately. By contacting a dentist quickly for a professional evaluation the chances are minimized for long-term or irreversible damage to the teeth, gums and supporting bone. Also the dentist can help relieve severe pain with short-term action.

There are some at-home remedies that can be utilized immediately to help deal with dental pain.  Oil of cloves containing eugenol can be used to treat dental pain.  Using a cotton swab a drop of oil of cloves can be applied to relieve pain in the affected area. This is also commonly used after wisdom teeth extraction.  A condition can develop known as dry socket.  This is where the nerve endings are exposed to air at the extraction sites. First the sockets are carefully cleaned with saline solution.  Then a piece of sterile gauze or cotton soaked in oil of cloves may be placed in the socket.

There are also at-home pharmaceutical remedies that can be used.   Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are both effective pain relievers.  Ibuprofen also gives the additional benefit of being an anti-inflammatory. Also recommended is using ice and/or heat to the affected area.  The dentist can then prescribe stronger pain medication if needed after the professional examination has been done.  Before getting to the dentist there are some basic first aid procedures that should be followed for the best possible results.  Some possible dental emergencies have been listed with the suggested treatment.  After the first aid has been applied the quicker the patient is taken to the dentist for complete care the better the results will be.

    For a fractured jaw:  Close the mouth and secure the jaws with anything that can be tied around the patients head.  Hold an ice pack against the fractured bone.  Transport as soon as possible to a dental professional.
    For a broken or loosened tooth:  Holding a cold compress to the affected area will help minimize swelling and reduce pain. Salvage any possible tooth fragments.  Place them in a jar with milk or wrap them in a wet cloth.  Transport patient and tooth pieces quickly to a dental professional.
    If a tooth has been completely knocked out: Rinse the tooth with clear water.  Try to gently place the tooth back in the socket or have the patient hold the tooth under their tongue if possible.  If this is not possible place the tooth in a jar with milk or wrap in a wet cloth.  If the gum is bleeding try to stem the blood flow by holding sterile gauze over the site.  Restoration of the tooth may be possible if the patient is treated within the next 30 minutes.