What is a Dental Emergency?

What Constitutes a Dental Emergency?

It is not uncommon to experience some level of dental discomfort at some point in your life. But you may be wondering if your aches and pains are within the range of normal, or if they are something that your dentist needs to address right away. Here are a few signs that you need to receive emergency dental care.

A Loose Tooth

Having a loose or wiggly tooth is not normal for an adult. By this point, your teeth should be firmly anchored within your gums. One common reason for experiencing a loose tooth is the presence of gum disease. If your gum disease has progressed to the point that your teeth are becoming loose within your mouth, it has reached a very serious point. You have likely already been receiving treatment for gum disease if this is happening.

If you have recently experienced some type of dental trauma prior to a tooth becoming loose, this may be a reason to seek emergency dental care, particularly if the tooth seems like it will come completely loose at any moment. If you have a loose tooth and are wondering whether to seek immediate care, contact us for our recommendations.

Bleeding Gums

It is not completely uncommon to experience bleeding gums occasionally, particularly when you overdo things by vigorously brushing or flossing. However, if your gums bleed on a regular basis, this is a reason for concern. It could be an indication that you are developing periodontal disease, commonly called gum disease.

Gum disease is a serious condition that will require treatment. However, it does not progress overnight. So if you experience bleeding gums on a regular basis, you will not require emergency care, although you should certainly make us aware of this at the earliest opportunity.

Dental Abscess

Dental abscess symptoms should definitely have you seeking emergency dental care. This is a very painful infection that has typically reached the dental pulp containing numerous nerves and the blood supply for the tooth. An abscess can also be caused by some type of trauma, such as a chipped tooth.

If you have an abscessed tooth, you may be experiencing symptoms like a foul taste in your mouth, a fever, or swollen glands. Seek out treatment immediately. An abscessed tooth normally means that you need some type of surgery to ensure that the infection is resolved and treated properly. Left untreated, an abscessed tooth can eventually result in you losing that tooth.

Toothache or Tooth Pain

Experiencing a severe toothache or tooth pain is a common experience when you have tooth decay or have experienced dental trauma. Your tooth decay may have reached the soft dental pulp at the center of the tooth, which contains many nerves. Or you may have fractured a tooth or lost a filling.

No matter what the cause, experiencing severe pain is definitely a dental emergency. Contact your regular dentist right away to ensure that you receive prompt pain relief and a treatment for your condition.