Many of us have had an uncomfortable dental issue that requires a non-routine visit to the dentist. Often, you can deal with the discomfort or manage the pain until you can get to your dentist. But sometimes, you just can’t wait a day or two to see your dentist. Dental emergencies occur just like any other medical emergency. But what qualifies as a dental emergency?
A dental emergency requires immediate attention to manage pain and prevent serious complications. Here are some of the most common dental issues that count as emergencies.
Severe Toothache
Having a toothache is never fun, but you can often manage your pain with over-the-counter painkillers until you can see your dentist. However, if the pain is too severe to manage on your own for a short time, you need to see a dentist right away. Many things can cause toothaches, such as tooth decay, gum disease, tooth abscess, or breakage. None of those are issues that you want to leave unaddressed.
Missing, Loose, or Broken Tooth
If something hits your tooth hard enough to knock it out, knock it loose, or break it, you should get to a dentist right away. For a short time after a tooth is knocked out, a dentist can often reattach it and minimize trauma to your mouth. For loose or broken teeth, having them treated by a dentist immediately will prevent any further injury.
Dental Abscess
An abscess is an infection at the root of your tooth. This infection can cause severe pain, swelling, and fever. To keep the infection from spreading, a dentist needs to drain the abscess and treat it, typically with antibiotics.
Bleeding Gums
There are plenty of non-emergency reasons why your gums might bleed. We all know that if you don’t floss for a while, that can cause bleeding gums. However, if your gums bleed excessively or won’t stop bleeding, that is cause for concern, and usually the result of injury or infection.
Don’t wait, come to Smile Boutique if you have a dental emergency!
Not all dentist offices are equipped to deal with dental emergencies. But not Smile Boutique! Our staff is prepared to deal with any dental emergency and take care of all your dental needs.
