Because we experience a wide variety of dental issues, it is sometimes challenging to determine what is an emergency or not. If you are experiencing a severe issue, receiving emergency dental services could save your tooth. In this guide, we introduce information regarding determining if you need emergency dental services or if the tooth problem can wait until your scheduled visit.
You Have a Cracked or Broken Tooth
Teeth crack and break for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, it is because you bit into something hard like bones, ice, or nuts. If you grind your teeth during sleep, that can cause pressure on your teeth, resulting in cracking.
As you age, your teeth start to weaken naturally. This can start happening around the age of fifty. However, no matter the tooth issue, you need to receive proper treatment from your dentist. While waiting to receive emergency dental services, use ice packs to control your mouth’s swelling.
Your Mouth Tastes Like Copper
If your mouth tastes like copper, that could be the sign of a loose crown or filling. You must seek emergency dental services in either of these cases. When you have an open filling, that could lead to cavities or infection.
While it might seem like it is okay to wait until your next dental visit to resolve this issue, waiting too long increases your chances of needing a root canal to resolve this issue.
You Have Severe or Unexplained Toothaches
You might be experiencing gum disease or an infection if you have persistent, severe, and unexplained toothaches. If the pain is minor, it is acceptable to try using at-home remedies for relief. However, if the ache does not go away, it is time to receive emergency dental services.
For example, an abscessed tooth might cause persistent pain. When you feel a bump around your tooth, that is an abscess that is causing the toothache. Other symptoms to look for include fever, swelling in your face or mouth, and tooth sensitivity.
Your Mouth Experienced Trauma
One of the most common causes for receiving emergency dental services is mouth trauma. Accidents that cause mouth trauma could lead to tooth loss. Some teeth could dislodge and result in bleeding.
What many people may not realize is that if a tooth dislodges, your dentist can salvage it. However, it must happen soon after the trauma occurs. Your dentist assesses the trauma and determines if they can set your teeth back into place.
How to Handle Dental Emergencies
No one likes to experience emergency dental services. However, if this is your current situation, you must know how to handle it. Here are some tips:
- Stay calm: First, don’t panic. Keeping a level head and staying calm helps you make good decisions.
- Preserve your tooth: If you lose a tooth, get a glass of milk. You can preserve teeth in milk for up to one hour, thus allowing your dentist to set it back into place.
- Reduce swelling: You can reduce mouth swelling by using ice packs in 10-minute increments.
- Eliminate bacteria: Use saltwater rinses to clean away any bacteria that might be causing infection.
Final Thoughts on Emergency Dental Services
Do you believe you are suffering from a tooth issue that requires emergency dental services? Are you concerned that this dental emergency might result in tooth loss? No one should have to go through these stressful situations without help. Contact Lovett Dental Piney Point Village at 832-242-2030 to learn more about the causes of dental emergencies and how we can resolve those issues.
