Dental emergencies can occur at any time, often when you least expect it. Sudden trauma to your mouth can be extremely painful and potentially cause complications if your dentist is not able to treat it quickly.
Let’s take a look at some common situations that require emergency dental treatment.
Broken or Cracked Tooth
A broken tooth can be caused by problems like trauma, severe tooth decay, or biting down on something hard. Teeth grinding can also cause a tooth to fracture. Severe pain can occur if a cracked tooth has extended to your tooth roots. Any time you notice a cracked or broken tooth, it is time to seek emergency dental treatment so that you can obtain pain relief and prevent further damage.
Severe Tooth Pain
Never ignore severe tooth pain, particularly pain that does not go away. Your regular dentist or emergency dentist can diagnose the cause of this tooth pain, which is commonly caused by an abscess or bacterial infection. In the case of an abscess, a root canal treatment is sometimes necessary, or you may need a tooth extraction. The key point is to seek out emergency dental care right away to give you your best chance of saving your tooth.
Knocked Out Tooth
If you should lose a permanent tooth, visit a dentist right away because time is of the essence. Grasp the tooth by the chewing surface, not its root. If you can, place it back in your mouth after rinsing it off. Or you could also place it in a glass of milk. Make sure to keep it moist until you can visit your dentist. Do so within one hour.
Losing a Tooth Filling
The purpose of a dental filling is to address previous tooth decay and prevent further damage to the tooth. So if you should lose a filling, you are back to square one and vulnerable to a bacterial infection that could eventually reach the dental pulp and cause the loss of this tooth.
Symptoms of a Lost Filling
- Tooth sensitivity
- Tooth pain
- Sensitivity to pressure
Missing Dental Crown
Dental crowns are sturdy structures, but they are not immune to falling out in certain situations, such as tooth decay. If a large cavity develops underneath a crown, the dental crown may not fit correctly any longer. If you notice a missing dental crown, make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. If you have secured the crown, place it in a container because there is a possibility that your dentist can use it.
Contact Us for Dental Emergencies
Patients are not always aware of what constitutes an actual dental emergency. You should now have a better idea of when to seek emergency dental treatment. Moreover, any type of dental pain that cannot be ignored qualifies as a dental emergency.
Furthermore, seek out the care of your regular dentist or an emergency dentist who can provide you with prompt pain relief and treatment.
Learn more about dental emergencies by contacting any of our offices below.
