Toothaches can be extremely painful. Whether you have a broken or cracked tooth, or a long-term cavity, calling an emergency dentist might bail you out. It’s imperative to reach out to your family dentist when you find the pain turning out to be unbearable. At times, you might experience the pain at odd hours, like in the middle of the night. Of course, you must know the difference between emergency dental services and ordinary dental care. In the first place, you should be aware of the conditions that can be tagged ‘emergency’. After all, accidents are unpredictable, and you need to be prepared for these unforeseen situations.
At Huch Family Dentistry, we offer holistic dental care to our patients. We have seasoned dentists on our deck to quickly get you out of the pain.
When does a dental problem turn out to be an emergency?
Well, not all dental conditions can be regarded as an emergency. Here are a few signs, that indicate that you need emergency dental care.
- If you experience severe pain or bleeding from your teeth or gums, it is definitely an emergency.
- In case you have lost a tooth, you can eventually save it by seeking quick medical attention. These instances can be considered to be emergencies.
- If you are an adult and have loose teeth with or without pain, it might pose a serious problem. This is an emergent situation when you need to reach out to your family dentist.
- A serious tooth infection or an abscess in your mouth can eventually turn out to be life-threatening. You might also have knots or swellings around your face or gums.
- If you are bleeding profusely from your mouth, it indicates an emergency.
To give you a comprehensive idea, you need to reach out to one of the reputed dentists around to deal with any sort of dental issue that needs immediate medical attention. You may want to alleviate intense pain, stop bleeding, or save a tooth under emergent situations. This is also applicable to severe infections in your mouth.
What are the conditions which require emergency dental care?
- Severe toothaches
Toothaches can lead to excruciating pain, which can rob you of your sleep or meals. At times, it can prevent you from carrying out your daily activities. Dental infection can lead to severe toothaches. Sometimes, serious decays can also disturb the nerves around your teeth. Initially, you may try over-the-counter relievers for pain. In case they fail to mitigate your woes, it can be considered a dental emergency. After you reach out to your family dentistry, follow these steps before you can meet the doctor.
- Apply a cold compress outside the mouth, pressing it close to the core tooth.
- Use saltwater for rinsing your mouth to alleviate the inflammation and kill germs.
- In case you feel food particles stuck around the sore tooth, use dental floss to eliminate them.
- Use a numbing or oral gel to the gums and sore tooth.
- Take care not to use any kind of pain relievers like aspirin on the gums or teeth directly. This can cause irritation to the gum tissues, aggravating the situation.
Once you reach out to your emergency dentist, the professional may recommend X-rays for scrutinizing the teeth. At times, root canal extractions may be necessary for treating the infection and related pain. Reputed dentists also prescribe antibiotics.
- Broken, cracked, or knocked-out tooth
If you have a broken or chipped tooth, make sure to visit a dentist. Tooth damages are common during sports activities or eating. In any case, it is recommended to seek fast treatment, as this can save you the tooth. Professional dentists can reattach the tooth back in place. In case you find the chipped tooth pieces, carefully rinse them using lukewarm water and carry them to the dentist in a cup of milk. Pain relievers might work if you have a cracked or chipped tooth. In case you have a bleeding mouth, apply a cold compress. To slow down your bleeding, you might bite a piece of cloth or gauze.
On the other hand, knocked teeth cause extreme pain. Most people think “Where can I find an emergency dentist near me”, experiencing the suffering, as they look out for a reputed dentist. It would be wise to have the contact details of your family dentist or any other professional handy. Well, you can get the tooth re-inserted in place if you can get it treated within an hour. In these cases, dentists clean the socket, eliminating debris, and put the broken tooth back to the socket. It might take a few weeks for the tooth to fuse to the gums.
- Damaged or lost filling
At times, you might end up losing or damaging a filling. If you feel the pain to be unbearable, make sure to see an emergency dentist at the earliest. However, if the pain is not intense, you may visit a regular dentist. In situations of complete loss of fillings, insert sugar-free gum in the vacant place. This might make you comfortable, and you can wait for the normal dentist to be available. In these cases, you can wait for a few days for the filling to be replaced.
- Dental abscess
Infections around the root of your tooth are common, and these are known as dental abscesses. This can lead to extreme dental pain. In case the infection spreads to the adjacent teeth, jaw bone, or your blood, it might turn out to be serious. Make sure to seek timely treatment if you suspect a dental abscess. At times, the severe pain might lead to fever. Depending on the severity of the infection and pain you are experiencing, you need to get emergency dental care from experts.
Meanwhile, you can apply a cold compress and have soft food. Rinse the area with salt water, which can help in comforting the pain. In most cases, dentists would prescribe antibiotics. A root canal treatment may be necessary to get you out of the discomfiture. At times, extraction may be necessary if the infection in your tooth is too severe.
Where to contact for emergency dental services?
Reach out to us at Huch Family Dentistry for all sorts of emergency dental treatments and relieve yourself from the pain. Blending technology and medical knowledge, we deliver steadfast services to our valued patients. You may reach out to us at (843) 797-0782 or book an appointment by filling up this online form.