Written by Article By Remarkable Smiles Orthodontics.  

According to a new report from the ADA, more and more people are visiting an emergency room with dental problems. Experts believe this is caused by young adults who lack good dental insurance. In just 10 years’ time, the number of emergency room visits due to dental problems increased by one million.

In most cases, an emergency room is only equipped to prescribe antibiotics to get rid of an infection or pain killers for the toothache. The patient must still schedule an appointment with a dentist or face the same, painful situation again in the near future.

But what happens if you have a dental emergency while wearing braces? First of all, the ER is not equipped at all to help fix any type of broken wire or bracket. If you have a dental emergency while wearing braces, then you must call your orthodontist. Usually, they will provide patients with an after-hours emergency contact number. Call the office to report your issue. Then wait for the orthodontist to call you back. If you’re having pain, then take over the counter pain relievers. Try to stay calm and not panic.

Sometimes the dental emergency is not related to the braces. It’s something like an abscessed tooth. These can be dangerous as the infection in your gums will spread throughout the body. Be sure to see your dentist quickly about this.

Losing a Filling is Common

Dental emergencies can include losing a filling. Remove a lose filling from your mouth so that you don’t swallow it. Fillings are prone to getting food particles stuck in them. Patients who don’t observe good dental hygiene may suffer when bacteria forms causing a problem. Your dentist can replace the filling and will check to see why the filling came loose.

Article written by Remarkable Smiles Orthodontics.  Dr. Mark Rashidi is a highly skilled an Orthodontist in Mission Viejo. He works with patients to help them get a perfect smile. Dr. Rashidi, an orthodontist in Irvine,  also offers services the Lake Forest, Laguna Hills and Laguna Niguel areas with excellent orthodontal care.