Whereas dental checkups will involve the occasional tooth cleaning, dental consultations, and X-ray imaging, emergency dental care is not routine. Dental emergencies require immediate action to alleviate severe tooth pain, discomfort, or injury to the mouth. The damage may cause bleeding and cuts in the gums that may dislodge or fracture your teeth. Acute dental problems are prevalent in the American population. Understanding your symptoms and their severity will help you decide whether you need an emergency dentist.
Conditions Necessitating an Emergency Dentist
1. Dental Trauma
Dental trauma is prevalent, especially in children. Injuries to teeth and their supporting structures can be categorized as:
- Fractures
- Extrusive or lateral luxation (where teeth become loose or may be displaced)
- Intrusion (where a tooth is displaced vertically into the alveolar bone
- Avulsion (where a tooth is completely removed from its socket
When you or your child experience dental trauma, you must tell your dentist when and how the trauma occurred. Such information will acquaint your emergency dental care to be offered and the treatment options available.
Tooth fractures may occur on the crown, root, or in both. When you have a fracture on the outer tooth covering (enamel), you may experience pain and sensitivity. Your teeth may sometimes break into fragments. In such a scenario, keep the tooth hydrated and immediately seek an emergency dentist liberty lake.
When you have avulsed teeth, remember:
- Primary teeth are usually not implanted
- Avulsed permanent teeth can be implanted but within a given time frame
When visiting your dentist with an avulsed tooth, carry it in milk. Alternatively, you may opt not to remove it from your mouth. Always remember to rinse teeth before trying to reattach them.
2. Severe Dental Pain
Oral pain can be due to several causes. It may originate from dental and non-dental sources. Non dental sources include:
- Migraine headaches
- Inflammation of sinuses found in the jaw (sinusitis)
- Pain from neural origin
- Pain from nasal tissues, ears, and the jaw joint
When you experience tooth pain, seek emergency dental healthcare to determine whether the pain is dental or non-dental. Dental pain may be due to:
3. Dental Caries
Dental caries (tooth decay) is a bacterial disease of teeth. Poor oral hygiene leads to bacterial growth. These bacteria feed on left-over carbs in your mouth and produce acid. The acid causes demineralization of teeth leading to tooth decay.
The pain usually occurs when decay reaches the tooth pulp, and inflammation begins. You will experience pain when you take hot or cold items. The tooth pain is sharp and lasts a few seconds. See an emergency dentist liberty lake when you suspect dental carries.
- Brush your teeth after every meal with a fluoride toothpaste
- Floss regularly
- Schedule regular dental checkups for professional cleaning
- Use a medicated mouthwash
4. Dental Abscess
Tooth pain can also be from a dental abscess. An abscess is a puss-filled cavity usually from an infection. When you have an abscess, you will experience swelling in the mouth or on the gum.
An abscess should indicate that you have an infection in the mouth that requires an urgent checkup. You might notice that you have chronic bad breath or a frequent unwelcome taste when you have an abscess. You may also experience pain when you take hot or cold substances.
5. Pain from the Gums
The leading cause of pain from the gums is bacterial plaque. Other causes of gum pain are when something is lodged in your gum. Pain from the gums will be a throbbing pain, and you may have swelling or redness in the affected area.
An emergency dentist should check any form of gum pain to avoid complications.
Pain due to Wisdom Teeth
Sometimes, growing wisdom teeth may be problematic and may require emergency dental care. Wisdom teeth may grow facing the wrong direction and compress nerves or affect other teeth. Wisdom teeth may also lead to the development of infection if they cause trauma to the opposite tooth.
Preventing a Dental Emergency
To avoid dental emergencies, consider:
- Using a mouth-guard especially when playing sports
- Watching what you eat
Other Dental Procedures
Other than emergency dentist procedures, dentists also provide a range of other services.
You may visit your family dentist to:
- Get your cavities filled
- Get your braces fixed
- Get information on how to take care of your teeth
You may also decide to visit a cosmetic dentist to:
- Get your teeth whitened
- Get your teeth straightened
- Get botox treatments
In summary, an emergency dentist will provide services when:
- You have a toothache
- When your teeth are chipped, broken, or knocked out
- When you have abscesses in your mouth or gum
- When you experience any form of bleeding or pain
If you are unsure if you need emergency dental treatment, then call Mint Condition Dental to help determine what you should do.
Hesitating could cost you your tooth and several additional treatment steps.
- Got questions? Reach out to Mint Condition Dental to discuss your or your family’s preventive care, cosmetic care, routine checkups, and emergency dental care needs in Liberty Lake, Colfax, Pullman, or Cheney.
