You probably know when you need to go to the emergency room for diagnosis and treatment when sudden medical emergencies like heart attack symptoms occur. It might not be as evident that you require immediate help when you have a dental emergency.
Although certain dental issues can wait until your planned consultation, many require immediate care. If you are aware of the differences, it would be easier to decide when to make an emergency dental appointment.
Even though a damaged veneer may look unsightly, it doesn't need immediate attention. On the other hand, you should make an emergency appointment right away if you lose a tooth while playing sports.In general, the following issues can be classified as dental emergencies:
Toothache that is unbearable
Knocked out teeth
Pain in the mouth or jaw
Abscesses
Mouth bleeding
You must recognize your dental emergency as soon as possible so that you can receive the urgent care you require and avoid unwanted complications.
Continue reading to learn more about the most common signs you might need emergency dental care.
1. Broken or knocked-out tooth
If one of your teeth gets knocked out, it is typically considered an emergency. Whatever caused your dental emergency, whether is a trauma while playing sports or a fall, you should get treatment as quickly as possible.
Our objective is to maintain your tooth. If the tooth hasn't fallen out of your mouth, secure it in place with gauze or a clean cloth and visit your doctor immediately. If it is not, make sure it's clean and put it in a cup of milk until you get to your dentist's office.
2. Continuous bleeding
Because they are thin, your gums occasionally may bleed when you clean your teeth or chew hard foods. Due to the mild and temporary nature of the bleeding, this is typically not the reason for concern.
Emergency dental care is required if the bleeding doesn't subside. Your doctor can determine the exact reason, stop the bleeding, and reduce the risk of long-term tooth, gum, or jaw damage if you see them right away.
3. Extreme pain
Swelling and excruciating pain are early indicators of major dental conditions. Call your dentist as soon as you experience significant pain to arrange an emergency appointment.
The most frequent cause of extreme pain and swelling is a dental abscess. An abscess occurs when a soft pulp inside the tooth gets infected and filled with pus.
If your tooth becomes abscessed, you shouldn't try ignoring the problem. Failure to treat an infection can result in progressing to other soft tissues in your neck and face as well as your jawbone.
The bottom line
Every aspect of your life may be impacted by a dental emergency. This can extend to eating, drinking, working, and engaging in athletic activities. You can never tell when a dental emergency may hit, but if you seek emergency dental care right away, you lower the risk of irreparable consequences and safeguard your dental health.
A dental emergency may be a stressful and intimidating experience. You may relax knowing that your emergency dental care provider has your best interests in mind. A skilled emergency dentist prioritizes providing immediate pain relief while also ensuring your comfort throughout your emergency. Look for a specialist with great expertise and experience treating your kind of dental problems. To be sure, try researching the reviews their patients leave online.