In most cases, a broken tooth won’t require emergency dental attention and it’s okay to wait until a scheduled dental appointment to address the issue, but there are times when this is not the case. There are some helpful guidelines, however, for determining whether your broken or cracked tooth is an emergency. Dental emergencies are situations where immediate medical attention from a professional is necessary. Much of the time, this means calling your dentist, or other area dentists if necessary, to schedule an appointment on the same day as the emergency. Sometimes, however, this could mean going to a hospital emergency room or an urgent care practice for medical attention and dealing with the dental aspects of the issue once the immediate emergency has been addressed. But first, how do you tell if your broken tooth is an emergency?
While there are many tooth fractures that don’t constitute dental emergencies, the most common type of dental emergency is fractured teeth. This means that many people sustain minor tooth fractures or cracked teeth that don’t require emergency attention, but serious tooth fractures clearly require medical attention. It’s not uncommon for people to break their teeth while playing contact sports or because of a fall or impact to the face; in these cases, the area may bleed and other tissues in the area will also be damaged, and it’s clear that medical attention is recommended. Other dental fractures that might constitute an emergency are those that are sustained while eating. Even if the rest of the facial and oral tissues aren’t damaged, if a large chunk of your tooth falls out while you’re biting a popcorn kernel or some other hard object, it’s likely to hurt, probably a lot, and it will certainly interfere with your ability to eat and possibly even to speak. If the issue impedes your ability to function, seek medical attention.
If, on the other hand, you notice a minor fracture or small chip in your tooth, and it’s clear that only the enamel is damaged, there is no immediate threat to your well-being and emergency attention isn’t necessary. It is important, however, to make an appointment with your dentist if you have a minor fracture or crack in your tooth, as it’s likely that the fracture will worsen over time, making it more difficult to treat and increasing the risk of infection inside the tooth. It’s not an emergency, but it shouldn’t be put off for too long. While you wait to see your dentist, use over-the-counter pain medication to help with discomfort that may arise, and, if you have a ragged edge to your tooth where a small chip is, invest in dental wax and try to avoid using that area while chewing. If it’s bad enough to significantly interfere with your quality of life, don’t be afraid to call your dentist and see if they have any same-day appointments. And if you’re looking for an emergency dentist, call around – while you may not be able to get in to see your own dentist, many dental practices reserve times for emergency appointments, and there’s a good chance someone in your area will be available. Sometimes dental emergencies happen during non-business hours, of course, but it’s still a good idea to call your dentist; many dentists leave emergency instructions on their voicemails and may provide referrals to other medical facilities, along with instructions on how to handle the situation in the meantime. Remember, too, that you can always go to an emergency medical facility to address the emergency situation and then see your dentist for follow up.