Emergency Dental Care in Buenos Aires

How to handle the most frequent urgencies

Dental Traumatism

There are different cases of dental traumatism:

Dental crown fracture: If the dental nerve is not exposed, a simple reconstruction of the tooth with a same-color restoration is the solution. On the contrary, if the dental nerve is exposed, a root canal treatment will be necessary.

Dental root fracture: this case has to be diagnosed in our Practice. The prognosis is reserved, depending on the direction of the fracture.

Root and crown fracture: if a longitudinal fracture takes place, the tooth will have to be extracted.

Avulsion of the tooth: The tooth comes out of the bone-socket. The proper conduct to follow is to put the tooth in milk, or under the tongue, and seek emergency dental care as soon as possible.

Acute infections

Acute infections are a common cause of urgent consultation. They bring pain and swelling on the affected area. You must visit your dentist as soon as possible, who will prescribe an appropriate antibiotic, and will proceed with a root canal or a tooth extraction, as it is necessary. Infections can be associated to non-dental causes; however, dental causes are the most common.

Avoid self-medication. In case that the patient self-takes an antibiotic treatment without consulting the dentist, the symptoms will probably fade. Despite the observed improvement, since the infection was not specifically treated, it will not be completely eliminated, and the symptoms will consequently return.

Pained caused by a removable denture

During the first days of use of the removable denture it is almost for sure that it will cause some kind of discomfort. In this kind of treatment, this is always contemplated, and there are therefore 2 or 3 sessions dedicated to make de accurate adjustments.

In case you feel pain after the collocation of the removable denture, you can take it out. Although you will have to collocate it back at least 4 hours previous to the visit to the dentist.

Dental Pain

Different causes can generate dental pain. One of them is acute infections (link), but other common causes are: restorations (amalgam or composite)- or “high” crowns-, cavities, or swellings of the dental nerve. Would you like to know further causes, please visit the Frequently Asked Question section.

Restoration (amalgam or composite) or ‘high’ crown: The collocation of a restoration or a permanent or temporary crown with which the patient chews first when closing his mouth causes swelling of the tissue that surrounds the tooth. This generates pain and discomfort, but it can be solved by rubbing away the material that causes the premature contact. This kind of pain is avoidable by a meticulous analysis once the restoration or the crown is collocated.

Cavities and inflammation of the dental nerve: Cavities are generally painless. Although they can sometimes increment the sensibility to cold and heat, they are not as painful as to ask for urgent dental care. When the cavity keeps evolving without being treated, it can reach the dental nerve (the pulp), which causes an acute pain.

Why can dental pain be so acute?

One of the characteristics of inflammation in any part of the body is the increment of volume of the affected tissues. For instance, when a person heats his head, the affected area swells and the well known ‘bump’ comes out.

When referring to teeth, the bump is equivalent to the cavity reaching the nerve, and the affected tissue that swells is the dental pulp. In opposition to the skin, which surrounds the head, the pulp is in the center of the tooth, so when it tries to expand it can not because it is trapped in a rigid structure. This produces higher pressure and compression of the nervous fiber. Moreover, any nerve termination located in the pulp is a pain receptor, so any stimulus (such as pressure, heat, cold) ends up being pain.

In case there is pain because the cavity reached the nerve, the only way to calm it is by visiting your dentist, who will eventually proceed with a root canal.

Drs. Pelcman’s Practice is a leading provider of cosmetic and restorative dentistry in Buenos Aires. Drs. Samuel and Martin Pelcman strive to make the dental experience as easy and comfortable as possible for all of their patients, including teeth whitening, porcelain veneers and root canal therapy Buenos Aires patients. Over the years, this dedication has helped them earn a reputation as premier Argentina dental implants and restorative dentistry providers.