Let?s talk about dental problems and dental emergencies!
Have you ever rushed to the emergency dental room for a seemingly urgent dental problem only to find out that it didn?t require all that hassle?
We understand how frustrating those unnecessary trips to the emergency room can be!
However, you certainly can?t afford to ignore a serious problem by delaying a visit to the dental clinic. This is why it?s so important to know what kinds of dental problems require emergency care ? and which don?t.
Let?s get started!
6 Signs You Need Urgent Dental Care
The following are a few common signs you need urgent dental care.
1.?Knocked-out Tooth
Knocked out a tooth in an accident?
It calls for immediate dental care!
When you knock out a tooth, it may result in excessive bleeding. The best way to control it is by applying direct pressure to the area with a cold compress.
Once the bleeding is under control, don?t forget to wash the dislodged tooth with clean water to remove dirt before carefully restoring it in its socket. While you?re on it, make sure that you don?t touch the root section.
If you don?t find this convenient, you can simply place the tooth in a cup of milk or wrap it in a clean, wet cloth before heading to the dentist.
A knocked-out tooth can be successfully re-implanted within 30 minutes of the accident. Hence, you should seek emergency dental care.
2.?Chipped, Cracked, or Fractured Tooth
Chipped, cracked, or fractured tooth warrants emergency dental care because if left untreated for long, it may invite harmful bacteria to cause an infection.
Whether you experience severe pain and sensitivity or not, you should consider visiting your dentist to get it fixed. Make sure you don?t chew with the damaged tooth to avoid any further damage. If you feel the damage is severe and has reached the inner structure of your tooth, use warm water to clean your mouth and take a painkiller to relieve pain until you visit the dentist.
Typically, a small crack can be treated with a filling while a root canal is recommended for a bigger crack. Sometimes, if the damage has reached too far down, the dentist may suggest extracting the tooth.
3.?Misaligned or Loose Tooth
A misaligned or loose tooth is one of the critical signs you need urgent dental care. You should never wait to get it fixed at a reliable dental clinic.
Now, East Village Dental understands how uncomfortable a loose or misaligned tooth can make you feel. However, you must resist the urge to force it back into position. You should only apply light pressure using your finger or gently bite it down until you reach the dental clinic.
4.?Abscess
An infection on the gum line or around the tooth?s root usually causes a lot of pain. It may also lead to swelling and pus formation (abscess) in the soft tissues.
You must treat it as a dental emergency?and get it treated before it starts to spread to other areas in the oral cavity or other parts of the body.
5.?Facial Fracture
An injury that results in fractured facial bones and broken teeth is also a dental emergency?that requires urgent care.
Thus, you should seek help as soon as you?re sure you?re out of danger.
6.?Loosened or Broken Dental Appliance
Broken braces and wires pose a risk of injury to the soft tissues in the mouth cavity. It can not only cause bleeding but also eating and speaking difficulties.
Furthermore, if your mouth tastes like metal, it may be a sign that your dental crown or old filling has cracked or loosened. You should seek emergency dental treatment in such a case because a loose filling can lead to several oral cavities and infections.
If you ignore this sign, you?ll only be cutting down your chances of treating it successfully with a root canal.
Non-urgent Dental Emergency
For the following dental problems, you may consult with your dentist during regular business hours instead of going to the emergency room. However, dental consultation is still critical.
- Dull toothache
- Slightly chipped tooth
- A small crack in the tooth
- Cracked or broken tooth without severe pain and sensitivity
- A lost dental filling, bridge, or crown
- Food stuck between teeth
If a dental problem can wait for a day or two until you see a dentist, it?s not a dental emergency. Sometimes, an issue that seems to be severe can actually wait if you take proper care of yourself.
If a chipped or cracked tooth is causing a lot of pain or has left sharp fragments that hurt in the oral cavity, you should definitely rush to a dental clinic. However, if it doesn?t hurt, it can wait.
Similarly, a toothache can wait if the pain isn?t severe and there?s no fever, abscess, or swelling of the gums or face.
What You Should Do
Ideally, you would want to avoid dental emergencies by taking good care of your teeth and following proper oral hygiene routine.
In case you identify a dental emergency, you should immediately consult with a dentist to address the problem. At East Village Dental Clinic, expert dentists cater to all kinds of dental emergencies and devise a customized treatment plan to prevent the situation from getting worse.