Preventive dental visits like cleanings and exams play a crucial role in maintaining oral health. Moreover, they also play a big role in preventing dental emergencies. However, despite your best efforts to avoid such situations, dental emergencies can still occur unexpectedly. In this blog, we’re going to explore 8 common dental emergencies and when you should see a dentist.
#1: Toothache
First, one of the most common dental emergencies is a toothache, which can result from various factors such as tooth decay, gum disease, or a cracked or broken tooth. Toothache pain can be mild or severe, and it can be constant or intermittent. If you are experiencing toothache pain, it is important to see a dentist as soon as possible to get the problem diagnosed and treated.
#2: Chipped or Broken Tooth
Next, a chipped or broken tooth can be a dental emergency, especially if the tooth is chipped or broken down to the gum line. This can expose the pulp of the tooth, which is the soft tissue inside the tooth that contains nerves and blood vessels. If the pulp is exposed, it can become infected, which can lead to pain, swelling, and even tooth loss.
#3: Knocked-Out Tooth
Third, if a tooth gets knocked out, it’s crucial to take immediate action to save it. The sooner you reimplant the tooth, the higher the chances of its survival. If you are unable to reinsert the tooth into its socket, store it in milk or saliva until you can consult an emergency dentist.
#4: Lost Filling or Crown
Next, if a filling or crown falls out, it can leave the tooth exposed to bacteria, which can lead to decay or infection. If you lose a filling or crown, you should see a dentist as soon as possible to get it replaced.
#5: Broken Orthodontics
If you have braces or other orthodontic appliances, they can break or come loose, which can be a dental emergency. Besides delaying your treatment, broken orthodontic appliances can make eating, speaking, and cleaning your teeth difficult.
#6: Dental Abscess
An abscess is a collection of pus that can form around a tooth. Unfortunately, dental abscesses can be very painful and cause swelling, redness, and fever.
#7 Bleeding and Pain After a Tooth Extraction
It is normal to experience some bleeding and pain after a tooth extraction. However, if the bleeding is heavy or does not stop after a few hours, or if the pain is severe, you should see a dentist as a blood clot may not have formed.
#8: Swelling or Discoloration of the Gums
Last, swelling or discoloration of the gums can be a sign of a dental infection. If you notice swelling or discoloration of your gums, you should see a dentist as soon as possible to get the problem diagnosed and treated to prevent it from spreading to surrounding areas.
Emergency Dental Care in Overland Park, KS
Are you experiencing a severe toothache, dental abscess, or knocked-out tooth? Don’t wait to get the care you need. At Blue Valley Smiles, we have an emergency dentist available to help your smile remain healthy. Contact us to learn more about treating a dental emergency today!
Image from Authority Dental under CC 2.0