When you accidentally sever your finger while cutting vegetables for dinner, you know to go to the emergency room. But what about when you bite into something and chip your tooth? Many people would still go to the emergency room for treatment. However, according to a recent article by the American Dental Association notes that many types of dental emergencies can be diverted from the emergency room into the dentist’s office. While diverting dental emergencies to an emergency dental office sounds ideal, the question quickly becomes, “what is a dental emergency requiring a dentist vs what types of emergencies require an emergency room visit?” In order to help you make this decision, here are five common dental emergencies that require a visit to an emergency dentist:

1. Dental Injuries and Emergency

2. Dental Injuries and Emergency
• Any dental injuries occur during childhood but can also
occur any time during your life. Common causes of
dental injuries include falls, knocks to the mouth during
sport, or as a result of assault or motor vehicle
accidents.
There may be injury to the hard tooth tissue, the
pulp, the surrounding bone or even the soft
tissues. Sometimes these injuries are obvious,
other times they are more subtle but can still
cause problems.

3. Dental Injuries and Emergency
• Often, the traumatic impact results in an injury to
the pulp and the tissues covering the tooth root.
If the pulp becomes injured or bacteria gain
entry as a result of the trauma, then endodontic
treatment may be necessary to prevent or
manage the consequences.

4. Dental Injuries and Emergency
In younger patients, teeth that are dislodged from the socket often have not
completed root development. Such teeth may not require endodontic
treatment as the open root end often allows blood supply to the pulp to be
re-established. Further follow-up with your Endodontist or dentist is
required to ascertain continuing root development or further management.
FIRST AID
What to do if a permanent tooth is avulsed (knocked out)?
Find the tooth. Hold the tooth by the crown (the white part), not by the
root (the yellow part).
Replant immediately, if possible.
If dirty, rinse briefly with cold tap water (max 10 seconds) and put the
tooth back in its place. This can be done by the child or an adult.
Hold the tooth in place (may do this by biting on a handkerchief). Go to
the dentist immediately.

5. Give us a ring (281) 957-7488
or visit www.kemahfamilydental.com to schedule
your appointment.
Kemah Family Dental
401 FM 518,Suite A
Kemah
TX 77565