What You Need to Know About Emergency Dentistry

During the weekends and at night, most dentists are closed. However, it doesn’t mean you can’t experience a dental problem during such times. Some dental issues might cause excruciating pain, discomfort and increase the risk of complications.

Some of the dental issues can cause secondary complications such as tooth loss, periodontitis,and root canal infections.When you develop such dental problems, you might require more invasive and expensive treatments. To prevent the risk of further complications, you should consider seeking emergency dental care?

What to Expect When You Seek an Emergency Dental Service

Not all dental problems require emergency care. Therefore, when you experience an oral health issue, it is advisable to contact the dentist near you. Your dentist will evaluate the need for emergency dental care, depending on your condition.

If you qualify for emergency dental care, you can proceed to schedule an urgent dental care visit. When you arrive at the dental office or emergency room, your dentist will begin by carrying out a quick dental exam. The dental exam will help your dentist create a treatment plan that fits your condition.

After the dental exam, your dentist will offer treatments to prevent further complications and reduce pain and discomfort. If you have another dental problem that doesn’t require urgent care, your dentist can schedule the treatments for another time.

What Qualifies to Be a Dental Emergency?

It is advisable to consult the dentist near you before seeking emergency dentistry services. Your dentist will advise you to seek emergency dental services or wait until the next day for treatments.

Some of the common dental emergencies include:

Knocked-Out Teeth

When playing sports or carrying out some activities, you might fall or hit a hard object and knock out your tooth. In such a case, you can expect excruciating pain, bleeding, and tooth loss.

To prevent such complications from worsening, you can consider seeking emergency dentistry services. If you delay without seeking professional help, you might risk losing your tooth. Therefore, you can consider collecting the tooth and clean it. Next, you can try placing it in its socket or store it in milk.

To increases the chances of saving your tooth, you should consider arriving at the dental clinic or emergency room before one hour elapses. As you delay, the root nerves die gradually, reducing the chances of saving the tooth.

Toothache and Swelling

You might experience a mild toothache that subsides if you bite down a hard object unknowingly. However, if you have a persistent toothache and swelling that is unexplained, you should be concerned. You might have a gum or root canal infection.

Sometimes a swollen jaw might be a sign of oral cancer. If oral cancer is not detected early, you might be at risk of fatality. Therefore, you should consider seeking emergency dental treatments after experiencing such signs. To reduce pain and swelling, you can place an ice pack on the face regularly.

Tooth Abscess

Dental abscesses are sore sacs on your gums filled with puss. Sometimes, you might have difficulties sleeping, swallowing, and breathing if you have a dental abscess. If the tooth abscesses are left untreated, you might be at risk of other complications. Therefore, it is advisable to seek emergency dentistry services.

If you have a dental abscess, avoid poking it since you might be at risk of further complications. To reduce the soreness, you can swish clove oil in your mouth.

Bleeding

Whether you are experiencing bleeding after a dental injury or brushing, it is not a good sign. Therefore, you should seek emergency care services from the dentist near you. Bleeding gums every time you brush your teeth is a sign of gingivitis. Gingivitis is the initial stage of periodontitis.

If you leave your gums untreated, you might be at risk of developing general health issues such as heart disease and stroke. When you are experiencing bleeding due to a dental injury, you can use a wire gauze or teabag to stop excessive blood loss.

Damaged Tooth Restoration

If you have a taste of coins, Dr. John Paul Girardi warns that it might be a sign of a damaged tooth crowns or fillings. If the damaged tooth restorations are left untreated, you might be at risk of infection. Therefore, you should consider treatments on the same day at a dental office near you.