Dental Emergencies and How to Treat Them
Most people don’t think about their teeth until they experience a dental emergency. Oral emergencies can be painful and disruptive, whether it’s a cracked tooth, a loose filling, or severe gum pain. While it’s always best to see a dentist in Coquitlam as soon as possible, some simple treatments can relieve you until you get to the dentist’s office.
Dental emergencies can generally be classified into two categories: problems with the teeth and issues with the gums. In Canada, the average person loses 3.54 hours per year to oral disease and professional treatment. The most common dental emergencies in Canada are:
– Toothaches (19.51%): This is the most common type of dental emergency and can be caused by several things, including tooth decay, gum disease, an infected tooth, or a cracked tooth.
– Gum problems (19.27%): This includes bleeding gums, swelling, and pain. It can be caused by anything from infection to inflammation to trauma.
– Broken teeth (16.03%): This can happen due to an injury or accident or if you have a tooth already weakened by decay.
– Loose teeth (14.81%): People with loose teeth usually have gum disease, which causes the gums to pull away from the teeth.
– Abscesses (11.36%): An abscess is a pocket of pus that forms around the root of a tooth. It can be caused by infection, tooth decay, or gum disease.
Treating a Dental Emergency
If you have a dental emergency, you should first call your dentist in Coquitlam. According to data from 2018, there were roughly 24,731 dentists in Canada (CIHI, 2020). In Coquitlam, the average fee for dental services is:
– Exam: $60 – $200
– X-ray: $30 – $100
– Cleaning: $70 – $200
– Filling: $100 – $400
– Root canal: $700 – $1500
– Crown: $800 – $2000
Another option is to go to a walk-in clinic or hospital emergency room. However, these options are usually more expensive and may not be able to provide the same level of care as a dentist. So, it’s always best to call your dentist first.
Benefits of Seeing a Dentist
Some of the top benefits of seeing a dentist include:
– Improving your oral health: In Canada, an estimated 2.26 million school days are missed yearly due to dental-related illness. Dental decay is the most common childhood disease, five times more common than asthma. By seeing a dentist, you can prevent many of these problems from happening in the first place.
– Saving money: Oral problems left untreated can often become more severe and more expensive to treat. For example, a minor cavity can turn into a root canal, costing upwards of $1500.
– Avoiding pain: Dental problems can be excruciating and often worsen if left untreated. Seeing a dentist can help you avoid this pain and get treatment for any issues.
– Improving your appearance: A healthy smile is integral to your appearance and can boost your confidence. If you visit a dentist regularly, they can help you maintain a healthy and attractive smile.
– Catching problems early: Many dental issues, such as gum disease, are painless in the early stages. You may not even know your situation until it’s too late. A dentist can detect these problems early and provide treatment to prevent them from becoming more serious.
– Maintaining your overall health: Oral health is linked to overall health, and problems in the mouth can often be a sign of more significant issues elsewhere in the body. For example, gum disease has been related to heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Seeing a dentist regularly can help maintain your overall health and catch any problems early.
When to See a Dentist
The Canadian Dental Association recommends seeing a dentist at least once every six months for a routine check-up and cleaning. However, if you have any oral problems, you should see a specialist as soon as possible. Waiting to see them can often make the situation worse and more expensive to treat.
Final Thought
So, these are some of the most common dental emergencies and the benefits of seeing a dentist. If you have any dental emergency, don’t hesitate to call your dentist. They can provide you with the treatment you need and help you avoid further problems down the road.
