When to See an Emergency Dentist
When you experience a dental emergency, you need fast treatment. Choose a dentist that offers real-time scheduling and has staff on call at all hours.
You should also find out if they have a page listing emergency instructions. This will help you determine if you need to go to the emergency room or a dentist instead. Contact Dentists In Las Vegas now!
Many people have a toothache or pain in their mouth at one time or another. However, when this pain gets to a critical level and is accompanied by other symptoms, it may be considered a dental emergency and require immediate treatment from an emergency dentist.
In some cases, a toothache isn’t a true emergency and can be managed with home remedies and over-the-counter medication. However, it is important to note that the severity of a toothache depends on the underlying cause. In some cases, the dentist will prescribe medication to treat the underlying issue and provide relief.
A toothache can be a sign of an infection in the gums, which is called pericoronitis. This condition causes inflammation of a third molar and is often accompanied by severe pain. It can also be caused by an untreated cracked tooth or an injury to the jaw or face.
When a person experiences severe pain, it can be difficult to sleep or function. This can lead to a number of issues, including stress that can trigger the onset of an anxiety disorder. In addition, a severe toothache can result in an increased blood pressure which can be dangerous to the health of a patient.
Tooth pain that lasts longer than a day or two may be an indication of a serious underlying problem that requires emergency dental care. This is especially true if the pain is accompanied by a fever or is caused by an accident that has resulted in a loose or knocked out tooth.
Occasionally, a minor soft tissue injury or bleeding in the mouth can also be considered a dental emergency. If an object gets stuck between the teeth, a quick flush and the application of clean cotton gauze can usually stop the bleeding. If the bleeding is severe, it is important to call a dental clinic right away and get to an emergency dentist to receive treatment as soon as possible. Most urgent care facilities have dentists on staff to help patients receive emergency dental treatment. ERs can only give medications to reduce pain and swelling and cannot perform restorative treatments like fillings or crowns.
When you’re experiencing gum pain, it can indicate a dental emergency. While it’s not as common as tooth pain, it can be very severe and needs immediate attention. Gingivitis, an inflammation of the gums, can lead to this type of pain. It’s also a sign that there’s an infection or serious problem. If it isn’t treated quickly, the infection can spread to other areas of your mouth or body, including your heart or brain.
Tooth decay and a cracked or chipped tooth can also cause gum pain. If you experience extreme pain or it’s accompanied by bleeding, this is an emergency and requires immediate treatment.
It’s not always easy to determine if you have a dental emergency and need to seek care immediately. The best thing to do is call your dentist and explain what is happening to them. They can help you determine if you need to come in for an emergency visit or if it can wait a day or two.
Typically, if you don’t experience bleeding or severe pain, it’s not considered a dental emergency. However, if you have an object stuck between your teeth or you’re suffering from hot and cold sensitivity, this could mean that the nerve in the tooth isn’t healthy and you may need to schedule a root canal.
You should also contact your dentist if you experience an unexplained swelling in the gums. This could be a sign of gum disease or an infection called herpetic stomatitis, which is caused by the herpes simplex virus and can lead to swollen and painful gums.
Other symptoms that are usually considered a dental emergency include a jaw fracture, dislocation or severe cuts to the mouth or face. These require immediate medical attention and should be handled in a hospital emergency room, rather than at a dental office. This is because a serious injury to the mouth or jaw can affect your ability to breathe and swallow, which isn’t something you want to take lightly. You should also contact your dentist right away if you have a broken tooth with any rough edges, as these can cut or damage the inside of your mouth.
Sometimes teeth are broken by biting down too hard or from underlying decay. These can be painful and cause infection if not treated quickly. If you have a cracked tooth, visit your dentist right away for repair and root canal therapy to prevent further complications. It is best to avoid going to the emergency room as they are not equipped to treat dental emergencies and will most likely just prescribe you painkillers or antibiotics which will not help the underlying problem.
If you have a tooth that has cracked, find the crack and manage it before seeing your emergency dentist. First, apply pressure with a piece of gauze to stop the bleeding. You can also use a moist tea bag to manage the blood flow since tannic acid in the tea helps with the clotting process. Try to keep the broken part of your tooth and store it in a cup of milk if you can. This will help to protect it and may give you the best chance of saving the tooth.
A knocked out tooth is a serious dental emergency that needs immediate treatment from your emergency dentist. You should find the tooth and pick it up carefully to avoid touching the roots. Try to place the tooth back into its socket but do not force it if it is not in. Make sure you manage the bleeding and try to avoid storing the tooth in water or other drinks as this can damage it. You can also try to hold the tooth in your cheek or in a small container of milk until you see your emergency dentist.
In most cases, a knocked out tooth is considered to be an emergency and must be fixed immediately. Waiting too long gives bacteria the chance to infect the tooth and surrounding gums causing pain and swelling. To keep the pain and swelling at a minimum, you can use a cold compress or take over-the-counter pain relievers until you see your dentist. Depending on the severity of your break, you will need to receive a root canal and crown or get a tooth replacement like a dental implant.
Despite their protective hard enamel exterior, the teeth and supporting structures of the mouth are vulnerable to trauma. Injury to a tooth can cause a range of complications such as uncontrolled bleeding, nerve damage and the loss of a tooth. These issues can also spread to other parts of the body and should be treated immediately.
Often, the injuries that require emergency dental treatment involve trauma to the gums, lips, tongue, cheek or jaw. Contact sports like boxing and football carry a higher risk of injury, but even non-contact sports can cause damage to the teeth and supporting structures of the mouth.
Most of these injuries should be treated in a dentist’s office, though some might require hospital care. This is particularly true for a broken facial bone, which should be treated in the hospital to ensure proper healing and prevent further health issues. In addition, patients with severe infection or complications may need to be admitted to the hospital for medical and surgical management of their condition.
Some issues requiring emergency dental treatment are not as obvious as an injured tooth or severe pain. For instance, if a person bites their tongue, this is not considered a dental emergency unless it is very painful or bleeding heavily.
Other signs that an individual should see an emergency dentist include a metallic taste in their mouth and a loose or cracked filling. If a filling is loose or falls out, it should be replaced as soon as possible to prevent bacteria from invading the tooth and causing an infection. A metallic taste in the mouth may also indicate that an existing cavity is affecting the surrounding tissues. This is another reason why it is important to visit the dentist regularly for routine dental checkups and cleanings. This will help detect and treat cavities before they become emergencies.
