Dental emergencies and trauma

Toothache, abscesses and infections that threaten the airway, the knocked-out tooth, fractures, bleeding after extraction, dry socket, pericoronitis, jaw dislocation and medical emergencies in the dental chair.

10 pages

Emergency

• Bleeding after a tooth extractionMost bleeding after an extraction stops with firm pressure on gauze
• Broken and displaced teeth: fractures and luxationsA broken tooth that shows pink or bleeds has an exposed nerve and needs a dentist today
• Dry socket (alveolar osteitis)Severe pain two to four days after an extraction (most often day three or four) with an empty…
• Facial swelling from a tooth: when it is dangerousA swollen face from a dental abscess usually needs a dentist and sometimes antibiotics
• Jaw dislocation: the mouth stuck openAfter a big yawn or a long dental visit the jaw can lock open with the condyles in front of the…
• Knocked-out tooth: replant within minutesA knocked-out permanent tooth has the best chance if it is put back in its socket at once
• Ludwig angina: airway firstA rapidly spreading, woody infection of both sides of the floor of the mouth, usually from a…
• Medical emergencies in the dental chairFainting is by far the commonest
• Pericoronitis and the wisdom toothInflammation of the gum flap over a partly erupted lower wisdom tooth

Approach to a complaint

• Toothache: approachMost toothache is from caries reaching the pulp

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← Dentistry

Educational content; it does not replace assessment by a dentist or doctor and is not a clinical instruction. For facial or neck swelling with difficulty swallowing or breathing, a knocked-out tooth or bleeding that will not stop, go to an emergency department at once.

Representative model, for educational purposes only.