Everyone knows that having a dental emergency is serious and requires seeing a dentist urgently. What a lot of people are not so certain of is knowing which types of conditions and situations are considered to be dental emergencies.
6 Most Common Dental Emergencies
If you are experiencing any kind of severe pain, discomfort or a dental injury, it is always advisable that you contact a dentist to confirm whether or not your situation is an emergency. Some of the most common dental emergency conditions include the following:
Severe Toothache
While a minor toothache may not require immediate dental care if you are experiencing severe tooth (or gum) pain you should see a dentist as soon as possible for emergency dental care. If it is accompanied by other symptoms such as swelling or bleeding, it may be even more serious.
Severe toothaches can be caused by conditions such as dental decay and infections which, in extreme cases, can be life-threatening if left untreated.
If you are experiencing severe tooth pain, contact a dentist for an emergency appointment. In the meantime, you can rinse your mouth with salt water and take over-the-counter painkillers to relieve some of the pain. To relieve any swelling, you can apply an ice pack.
Chipped, Cracked or Fractured Teeth
A chipped, cracked, or fractured tooth is serious. It can affect your teeth’s structural integrity and even lead to infection. Dental X-Rays are necessary to determine the level of damage and the right course of action.
Damage to the pulp (the soft tissue inside of the tooth) means you’ll likely need a root canal. Damage to the outside might mean you just need a crown. In any case, you should be reaching out to a dentist ASAP.
Knocked-Out Tooth
If one of your teeth gets knocked out after an accident, fall or sports injury, it’s essential to call a dentist right away. This will increase the chances of the dentist being able to reinsert your tooth back in place.
You can also increase your chances of saving the tooth by adequately preserving it. Do this by picking up the tooth by the crown and gently washing it off. Carefully place the tooth back in the socket and bite down.
Bleeding or Severe Pain After A Dental Procedure
If you are experiencing bleeding that won’t stop and have recently undergone a dental procedure such as tooth extraction, wisdom tooth removal, root canal or any other treatment – this could indicate a dental problem and requires emergency dental care.
Facial Swelling
If your face is swollen, it may be a sign of an infection or impacted wisdom teeth. Do not ignore facial swelling, contact an emergency dentist in Ashburton immediately. Infections and conditions that cause swelling can be severe and even life-threatening if left untreated.
Prior to your emergency appointment, you can apply an ice pack over the swollen area to reduce the swelling and ease some of the discomforts.
Dislodged Crowns and Fillings
If a crown, fillings or any other type of dental restoration has dislodged or fallen out of your teeth, it is important that you have it treated quickly by an emergency dental clinic. Crowns and fillings protect painful cavities and the sensitive inner layers of your teeth. So, if a restoration becomes dislodged or falls off, your tooth is exposed and susceptible to harmful bacteria, damage and injury.
Need an Emergency Dentist in Ashburton?
If you are in need of emergency dental care in Ashburton, Ashwood Dental is a trusted local clinic that provides emergency dental services including same-day appointments and emergency walk-in appointments for patients in need.
If you are experiencing a severe toothache or any of the above conditions, give us a call and our experienced team will let you know what next steps to take. Our emergency dental clinic in Ashburton is here for you, we are open six days a week and on Sundays by appointment.
