Could the Dental Issue You Have Be An Emergency? Here’s How You Can Tell

It is a fact that dental emergencies are unforeseeable and tend to occur when you least anticipate it. This is because you can never pinpoint when you need to rush a loved one or yourself to an emergency dentistry near you.

Unlike other dental appointments, dental emergencies cannot always be booked or slotted in beforehand. From experience, with the emergency cases we handle, most clients with dental emergencies cannot always book their appointments before they arrive at our facility.

Although dental emergencies are unpredictable, you can still diligently be prepared to face such scenarios should they occur.

The first thing you need to tick off your list when preparing for a future dental emergency is knowing where to go for medical attention during that time. You need to know a reliable emergency dentist near you who can provide emergency dental care during your dental emergency.

It is wrong to assume that your family dentist will assist you during your medical emergency. This is because your dental issue can occur during after working hours and your dentist may have closed office for the day.

If you find it tasking to narrow down on a reliable emergency dentist, your regular dentist can recommend one for you.

Is Your Dental Issue An Emergency?

Apart from knowing where to go for medical assistance during an emergency, you also need to know if the dental issue you are facing is an emergency.

Clearly distinguishing between a dental emergency and non-emergency can go a long way in helping you avoid making an unnecessary rushed trip to the dentist.

If you are unsure whether the dental issue is an emergency or not, here are a few pointers to help you establish what you have.

Your dental issue is an emergency if:

• You have any loose teeth
• You have experienced any trauma to your face or mouth
• You have a persistent and severe toothache
• You have any facial inflammation or jaw pain
• You experience any persistent bleeding within or around your oral cavity
• You have any constant pain or aches within your mouth
• Your gums have any swellings, bulges, knots, or protrusions
• You have a persistent toothache accompanied by a fever, foul breath, and gum inflammation. This is usually an indication that you have an infection
• You have just lost a tooth

All the above pointers indicate that the dental problem you have is a dental emergency. If you have any of the above indications, you should contact our emergency dentistry near you because your dental condition requires immediate medical attention.

What Are Some of the Common Dental Emergencies?

Here are some of the common dental emergencies and how you can handle yourself during these situations:

An Abscessed Tooth

This is a potentially life-threatening dental infection that occurs when a pus pocket forms within your tooth’s root region. The condition is indicated by fever, persistent toothache, and sensitivity, swellings on gums, facial inflammation, and swollen lymph nodes.

This dental condition needs immediate medical attention to prevent the infection from spreading any further. If you are faced with a dental issue, you should rinse your mouth with some saltwater to draw up the pus, take some painkillers and make your way to our dentist.

Knocked-out Tooth

This is a time-sensitive dental issue. You need to ensure you get medical attention at least thirty minutes after the incident. This is because as time progresses, your tooth loses its viability, and reattachment will be impossible.

You should pick up the tooth by the crown and rinse it out gently. Whatever you do, you should avoid tampering with the root. After rinsing it out carefully, you can try reinserting it back into its socket and bite down on it to keep it in place.

If it cannot stay in place, carry it to our dentist in a container of milk to keep it hydrated.

Fractured or Cracked Teeth

If you experience a fractured tooth causing you any discomfort or pain, you need to contact our dentist for emergency dental care. This is because such a fracture indicates that there is more damage that has occurred within the tooth.

Gently rinse your mouth out, apply a cold compress to reduce facial inflammation, take some pain killers, and make your way to our facility.

Cuts, Tears, or Lacerations

Cuts, lacerations, and tears within or around your mouth are considered dental emergencies because, if left unchecked, can result in excessive loss of blood. You should rinse your mouth out, try and control the bleeding using a gauze piece, and apply a cold compress where necessary.

At New Tampa Smiles, we are always here for you. Contact us today for dental emergency care.