Some dental issues may warrant an immediate trip to an emergency dentist. Severe cases could be life-threatening, in which case it’s critical to get checked out. Sometimes seeing a dentist can do more than relieve pain; it can save your life. But how do you know if you have a dental emergency? Here are seven reasons to see a dentist immediately.
1. Continuous Bleeding
Bleeding inside the mouth now and then is common, such as when you have a minor injury or brush and floss your teeth. But bleeding that is random, excessive, and continuous is cause for concern. In this case, we recommend seeing a dentist immediately. There might be a reason your blood isn’t clotting, which might lead to heavy blood loss. A condition like this could be fatal in people with blood conditions. The open wound also increases your chances of a severe infection. It’s better to be safe than sorry, so if you experience excessive bleeding in the mouth, call your dentist right away to get checked out.
2. An Infection
Many dental infections are no big deal, and some are highly severe. Either way, you should take dental infections seriously. When neglecting an infection in the mouth, it can become serious rapidly. It may even cause your body to go into sepsis. Sepsis is a serious condition that occurs when your body’s response to an infection in the body causes damage to its tissues. It can also lead to septic shock, which is life-threatening. Here are some signs of an infection:
- Persistent pain
- A high fever
- Redness in the affected area
- Severe swelling
- Intense heat in the afflicted area
- Pus or any other drainage
3. Fractured Facial Bones
Ignoring a cracked tooth can be severe and lead to permanently losing that tooth. Ignoring potentially broken bones in your jaw can be life-threatening. It can cause deformation and intense pain and affect blood flow to the area, causing tissue damage and infection. The risks are even more critical with an open or compound fracture. If you think you may have an oral fracture, do not put off seeking treatment. You must see a dentist right away.
4. Missing Filling
Tooth fillings don’t last forever, and sometimes they fall out. Losing a filling can cause several severe problems for your exposed tooth. Your tooth may easily chip or break without that filling, and it may also cause damage to any exposed nerves. A dentist put that filling there for a reason. If you lose it, make sure to call a dentist right away and explain what has happened.
5. Broken Crown
Much like a filling, when a tooth crown breaks or falls off, your tooth is left exposed, making it more susceptible to infection and nerve damage. It’s crucial to get a crown replacement to avoid any additional damage. Otherwise, you may wind up needing a root canal or a tooth extraction.
6. An Abscessed tooth
A tooth abscess is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition where a pocket of pus in the tooth is causing an infection. Signs of an abscess include fever, tooth sensitivity to hot and cold, a continuous headache, lymph nodes in the neck that are tender, face swelling, and bumps on your gums near the infected area. This condition is severe because the infection can spread to your jaw, tissues, and even other areas of the body.
7. Nerve pain
Talk about excruciating pain and sensitivity. You will experience both if you have exposed nerves in your mouth. You must see a dentist right away if you have exposed nerves to prevent infections, additional damage, and potential dental treatments down the road. Don’t ignore intense mouth pain.
While life-threatening dental issues warrant an emergency visit to a dentist, other instances also require urgent care. Acting quickly in a dental emergency could help prevent extreme oral pain and possible problems down the road. Don’t sleep on dental issues. Some other reasons for urgent dental care include:
- A chipped, cracked, or loose tooth
- Trauma-induced loss of both baby and adult teeth
- Intense pain in the teeth or gums
- Abscesses
- Sudden numbness
If you have a chipped or cracked tooth that isn’t causing any pain, then you don’t have to see an emergency dentist. You can call your regular dentist and ask for an appointment as soon as possible. A minor toothache usually doesn’t constitute an emergency, as long as the pain is minimal and there’s no swelling of the face, bumps on your gums, or a fever, which are all signs of an abscess.
You do not want to ignore any signs of an infection or severe pain. Acting swiftly in a dental emergency can make all the difference. For help with dental emergencies, visit our family dentists in West Haven, Layton, or Kaysville.