When To See A Dentist About A Dental Emergency?

When To See A Dentist About A Dental Emergency?

Aug 04, 2022

It is important to be informed of what kind of dental injuries are classified and severe enough and may require immediate medical attention. Not everyone is in a position to assess dental trauma and make an emergency call to your dentist. A thorough assessment of the trauma to our mouth and tooth is necessary to ensure no permanent damage if you do not visit an emergency dentist immediately.

Some of these injuries that qualify an emergency trip to your dentists include a broken, cracked, or knocked-out tooth, which can result from biting on something hard like hard sweets, ice, or biltong or a sports-related injury or fall from any accident. The location, severity, and type of injury is the deciding factor in determining whether an emergency visit to a dental office is necessary or if a call to your regular dentist during normal business hours is sufficient.

Read along to understand more about dental emergencies, including the most common ones and the consequences of not seeking immediate medical attention.

What Is A Dental Emergency?

A dental problem that requires a dentist’s immediate attention qualifies as a dental emergency. This is to save the tooth, reduce the severe pain or stop the ongoing bleeding. A severe infection of the affected tooth or an abscessed tooth can be life-threatening as it can cause complications and should be dealt with immediately.

What Are Some Common Dental Emergencies?

Some of the most common dental emergencies include:

  • Tooth Pain

Tooth pain is always a symptom of any dental problem. It may indicate a range of dental issues. Severe pain can also indicate that you have a toothache that may be caused by food debris between your teeth or an infection caused by bacteria.

When tooth pain suddenly and progressively worsens, it is important to seek immediate medical attention. You may apply a cold compress to the side of your chick that’s affected to alleviate the discomfort as you wait to see your emergency dentist in Frisco, TX.

  • Chips and Cracks

Chips and cracks may happen when you bite down on hard objects or because of an accident. People who clench their teeth are also more susceptible to cracking or chipping. If you have a cracked or chipped tooth, visit your dentist. If you have fragments preserve them in a glass of milk and bring them with you to the emergency dental appointment.

  • Loose or Knocked-out teeth

If our tooth is knocked out or loosened by an accident or a fall, it is important to seek medical attention. If your tooth is loose, it is important to keep it between your tooth’s socket to prevent it from falling out before seeing your dentist in Frisco.

For a knocked-out tooth, it is important to locate the missing tooth. Once you find the missing tooth, hold it by the crown, not the root, and rinse it. You can preserve the knocked-out tooth in two ways: by storing it in a fresh glass of milk, or you can place it back on its socket and bite down as you would for loose teeth.

  • Soft Tissue Injury

The soft tissue of your oral cavity includes the gums, lips, tongue, and insides of your cheeks. When these soft tissues are injured, you may need to call an emergency dentist. Some f these cases may require an emergency dentist, while others may require an emergency room visit.

Some soft tissue injuries such as punctures, lacerations, and tears should be rinsed with warm water before applying any pressure to stop the bleeding.

What Are The Consequences of Not Seeking Treatment?

The consequences of not seeking emergency medical treatment at Millennium Smiles include:

  • Although the toothache will disappear after some time, the pain might persist and make the condition worse if not treated immediately.
  • Damage to your nerves. Once your nerves are damaged, your natural security stops working. Without the necessary treatment, your tooth may lose its sensation.
  • Bacterial infection. The teeth have a protective layer that keeps bacteria from entering the vulnerable part of your tooth. if this protective coating is damaged, it may allow bacteria o your mouth causing the infection.
  • Permanent damage to your teeth. Delaying dental attention can lead to permanent loss of your tooth.