Regular dental checkups can catch the majority of dental problems, such as tooth decay or gum disease, at an early stage. However, some problems can arise more rapidly and require urgent attention. If the following circumstances apply to you, be sure to get in touch with an emergency dentist right away.
1. Serious Oral Injuries
If you have experienced an accident that has knocked out a tooth, chipped a tooth or lacerated your gum, you should visit an emergency dentist immediately. Bring the knocked-out tooth or chipped-off piece with you if you have it, storing it in a glass of water or milk to protect the root. The dentist might be able to restore the tooth to the gum. If not, they can clean up the site of the injury and let you know your options for tooth replacement, which might include a crown, a bridge, or a dental implant.
2. Oral Infections
Learning to spot the signs of an oral infection could save your life. When infections spread deep into the gum, bacteria can travel through the bloodstream to other parts of the body, such as the brain or heart. Look out for pus discharging from your gums, severe swelling, and pain that gets worse over time, which can all be symptoms of infection. If you have any of these symptoms, it is important to act quickly.
An emergency dentist can give you antibiotics to stop the infection in its tracks. They can also treat the source of the infection, which could mean removing an infected tooth, lancing an abscess with sterile tools, or carrying out surgery to treat a severe case of gum disease.
3. Unmanageable Pain
Home remedies can help people to manage most cases of toothache. For example, pressing a cold compress against your cheek on the side of the mouth that hurts can help to reduce oral pain, as can taking over-the-counter pain medications and sticking to a soft food diet for a few days. However, sometimes dental pain can get so bad that these simple tips are not enough to manage it. In that situation, you should call an emergency dentist rather than continue struggling to go on with your life while in severe pain. Severe pain can be a sign of a serious oral health problem, so do not wait until your next regular dental appointment to get it checked out.
If you have any of these symptoms, contact an emergency dentist in your area.
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