Dental Emergency Signs

We will all suffer with dental problems throughout our lives. Sometimes they may be major, and other times they may be minor. Making an appointment with the emergency dentist could take time – time which may be of the essence depending on your situation. But how do you determine whether something is a dental emergency, or not?

Knocked Out Tooth

This is probably one of the most obvious reasons to call the emergency dentist. With a tooth that has been knocked out, it is important to follow the necessary steps. If possible, the tooth needs to be cleaned with care and then held back in place – with the tooth back in its socket. If that cannot be done, then it should be kept in milk. Remember to only handle the tooth at the crown, rather than the roots – doing this will help preserve it. A dentist needs to be seen immediately.

Toothache

Toothache is in no way humorous. Obviously, this pain needs to be severe enough to be classified as an dental emergency. Before calling your dentist in the middle of the night, take the necessary steps to relieve the teeth and gums. If the pain continues then it could likely be an indication of a more serious problem. The root cause of toothache could be dental cavities, a tooth abscess or dental fractures. It could also mean that you are in need of an emergency dental procedure – such as an emergency root canal.

Complications with Previous Procedures

This has been known to happen in the past, where braces or crowns in the mouth get damaged and need immediate attention. A dental crown could break off from your teeth -if this happens it is not the end of the world. Although, in such a situation it is most ideal to see your dentist right away instead of finding your own temporary solution until you can make an appointment.

Braces wires can also cause a problem every so often. If a piece of wire has broken and is now poking into the cheek, a temporary plan can be made until the orthodontist is available – such as covering the wire with a piece of gum, a gauze or ideally orthodontal wax. Brackets and bands can also loosen – it is always best to try and see your orthodontist as soon as possible when these things happen.

A Constant Headache

This may seem like the least likely thing to be related to your teeth, however it is not. Grinding teeth at night, as well as tooth related pain could be the root cause of the headaches. A procedure such as root canal or an emergency tooth extraction could bring sudden relief to your headache.

These are not the only signs of a dental emergency. As humans, we are prone to accidents and emergencies. In order to avoid any permanent damage and save our teeth, it is vital that we see our dentist immediately if we experience any of these signs. Keep a lookout for them and safeguard your treasured smile.