What are Dental Emergencies ?

1.DENTAL EMERGENCIES:

include dental conditions leading to impairment of basic functions like breathing and swallowing.

Following are the Dental Emergencies:

• Uncontrolled bleeding
• Diffuse soft-tissue bacterial infection with intra-oral or extra-oral swelling that potentially compromises the patient’s airway
• Trauma involving facial bones, potentially compromising the patient’s airway

Intervention:

These conditions are Life-threatening and require Immediate treatment.

2. URGENT DENTAL PROBLEMS: 

are those that affect the normal functioning of the patient like moderate to severe pain/infection.

Severe pain may be described as constant pain or pain increasing in intensity. 

Urgent Dental Problems include:

•  Severe dental pain from pulpal inflammation
• Wisdom tooth pain, pain due to infected/ inflamed gums
• Post-surgical pain
•  Abscess, or localized bacterial infection resulting in localized pain and swelling
• Tooth fracture resulting in pain or causing soft tissue trauma
• Dental trauma with avulsion/luxation
•  Dental treatment required prior to critical medical procedures
•  Final crown/bridge cementation, if the temporary restoration is lost, broken or causing gingival irritation
•  Biopsy of abnormal tissue

Intervention:

Your Dentist will prescribe Antibiotics and Painkillers, that will help to relieve severe pain and/or risk of infection. 

If symptoms are relieved/not relieved post pharmacological management, you will be scheduled for a physical visit to the dental clinic at the earliest convenience.  

3.OTHER URGENT DENTAL CARE: SCHEDULED /ELECTIVE PROCEDURES includes :

• Extensive dental caries or defective restorations causing pain
• Suture removal
• Denture adjustment on radiation/ oncology patients
• Denture adjustments or repairs when function impeded
• Replacing temporary filling on endo access openings in patients experiencing pain
• Snipping or adjustment of an orthodontic wire or appliances piercing or ulcerating the oral mucosa

Intervention:

Such patients should be  tele-counseled and scheduled as a priority when regular dental services are restored.

 4.DENTAL NON EMERGENCY PROCEDURES: 

 Routine or non-urgent dental procedures include but are not limited to:

• Initial or periodic oral examinations and recall visits, including routine radiographs
• Routine dental cleaning and preventive therapies
• Initial or periodic oral examinations and recall visits, including routine radiographs
• Routine dental cleaning and preventive therapies
• Orthodontic procedures other than those to address acute issues (e.g. pain, infection, trauma) or other issues critically necessary to prevent harm to the patient
• Extraction of asymptomatic teeth
•  Restorative dentistry including treatment of asymptomatic carious lesions
• Aesthetic dental procedures
• Orthodontic procedures other than those to address acute issues (e.g. pain, infection, trauma) or other issues critically necessary to prevent harm to the patient
• Extraction of asymptomatic teeth
•  Restorative dentistry including treatment of asymptomatic carious lesions
• Aesthetic dental procedures

 Intervention:

Such patients should be  telecounselled and scheduled as a priority when regular dental services are restored.