Just like unexpected car accidents, dental emergencies can happen to anybody at any time and need immediate attention. They occur when a critical condition increases the affected individual’s risk of tooth loss or severe oral damage.
You must visit your dentist regularly to maintain a bright smile and excellent dental hygiene. Good dental routines will keep your mouth healthy. But did you know that even if you visit your dentist frequently and always maintain proper habits such as flossing and brushing daily, you can still have a dental emergency?
Also, you can experience injuries to your gums and teeth that can become severe and lead to further damage. It’s important you contact Emergency Dental Pros of Atlanta or go to an emergency room for immediate dental care. If you have a sudden dental issue, don’t be scared; get help immediately.
If you’re wondering what emergency dental care means, you’ll find the answers in this post. Keep on reading.
Definition of Dental Emergency
A dental emergency is different from your regular dental appointments. It’s any dental issue that needs immediate attention. Dental emergencies are associated with symptoms and signs, including swelling, bleeding, and intense pain. Not all tooth problems are emergencies, but if you bleed uncontrollably, experience pain that doesn’t go away after taking medication, or have a cracked facial bone, then you have a dental emergency.
Teeth problems that need dental emergencies include the following:
1. Severe Toothaches
Pain is a bad sign of toothache. It can point to numerous conditions, such as tooth decay. While you can manage some toothaches without needing emergency treatment, some symptoms, such as swelling, may require urgent dental care.
2. Cracked or Broken Tooth
If you bite too hard on something, you might crack or break your teeth. Not only does a cracked or broken tooth ruin your beautiful smile, but it also hurts badly. If you crack your teeth or engage in any activity that causes your teeth to chip or break, you need immediate dental care.
3. Lost Crown or Dental Filling
Dental fillings and crowns restore previously damaged or bad teeth to their best function and appearance. So, if teeth break, you must treat them immediately to prevent infection or further damage.
4. Broken Orthodontics
Braces are robust. These metal brackets and wires are made to withstand daily use and wear & tear when eating, chewing, and talking. But then again, it can break, stick out, or even poke your gums or cheeks. This causes discomfort and can slow down the progress of straightening & aligning your teeth. When this happens, you need to visit your dentist urgently.
5. Dental Abscess
If you have an infection in your mouth, especially if it’s near the space between your gums and teeth or close to the root of a tooth, it’s a serious issue that needs immediate attention. If you don’t treat it, the infection will spread to the gum tissue, surrounding teeth, and even your body.
Click here to learn how to handle dental emergencies.
Visit your dental clinic right away if you feel any pimple-like, swollen spot in your mouth.
Other issues that require dental emergencies include:
- Extruded tooth (partially removed)
- Tooth loss
- Bleeding mouth
- Dental trauma with dislocation
Emergency Dental Care FAQ
Q1. Are There Any Consequences of Emergency Dental Care?
A1. Yes, there are consequences. Refusal to seek immediate dental care or treatment can worsen your dental issue. It could lead to severe teeth problems requiring costly and extensive fixes. Also, it could lead to permanent damage, such as tooth extraction or tooth falling out.
Q2. Does a Damaged/Bad Tooth Also Count as a Dental Emergency?
A2. if you fracture, break, or even chip your tooth, it can affect how you chew, cause mouth bleeding, and lead you to tear the soft tissues found in the cheeks, gums, tongue, and lips.
Q3. What Should I Do If Something Gets Stuck in My Teeth?
A3. Food particles or an external object between your teeth can cause severe pain, bleeding, and swelling. If something gets stuck in your tooth, you must need emergency dental care. Failure to seek help urgently could expose you to fractures and tooth infections. Visit here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK542165/ for more information.
Also, if food particles get trapped in between your teeth, first try to remove them with a toothpick or dental floss. If the foreign object doesn’t come off, you need emergency dental treatment and care.
Q4. How Should I Prevent Dental Emergencies?
A4. Just as the saying “prevention is better than cure,” there are certain measures you must take to avoid dental emergencies.
- Maintain Excellent Oral Hygiene: Brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash every day can minimize your risk of dental problems.
- Ensure to Protect Your Teeth During Any Physical Activity: Make sure you wear mouthguards when engaging in sports. Also, avoid chewing hard substances like popcorn kernels and ice.
- Avoid Toxic Habits: Limit your intake of acidic food and sugary drinks. If you’re a smoker, you should quit smoking.
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.
