What Dental Issues are Considered a Dental Emergency

There are several occasions when you will need to see a dental professional. You may have to undergo a regular checkup to ensure everything is fine regarding your oral health or professional teeth cleaning to improve your general health and smile. Other times, a dental visit is not elective but necessary. This is especially true when you have a dental emergency.

What is not deemed a dental emergency? This blog explains what is and is not a dental emergency. Most people are usually confused regarding this essential topic, so gaining an in-depth understanding of it is critical.

Facial Swelling

Have you looked at yourself in the mirror lately and realized that one side of your face appears more puffy or swollen? Facial swelling may be a result of an oral health problem. Even if you do not feel any associated discomfort or pain at the moment, facial swelling is not an issue you should ignore.

The swelling most likely results from a gum infection. If you experience facial swelling, you may need to see an emergency dentist to address the problem before more severe problems arise. A tooth infection is also another cause of facial swelling. Other health issues, like periodontitis, can occur if the infected tooth is not treated for a given period.

Your dental professional will address the issue by treating the infected gum and tooth with the correct treatment procedure. This will relieve swelling and related pain, and your face will look symmetrical and normal again.

Severe Toothache

Several things can lead to a toothache, and even though you need to visit your dental professional as quickly as you can, even for minor forms of toothaches, you want to book a dental emergency appointment should the pain become consistent and more severe.

Among the reasons for severe toothaches are trauma to the tooth, infection, and decay. An infected, decayed, or injured tooth can be severely painful, making food chewing difficult and undesirable. A pulsating toothache additionally makes it very challenging to sleep during the night. If not treated, the pain can worsen, and the infection can spread to the surrounding gums, teeth, and other body parts, resulting in severe systemic health problems.

A severe toothache undoubtedly qualifies as an emergency because it needs attending to as soon as possible. By undergoing treatment quickly, you will avoid more health-related complications. Additionally, alleviating the pain from the toothache would feel like one of your life's greatest moments.

Even though injuries to other body parts can undoubtedly be painful, there is something more sensitive about having a toothache. It is not an experience you will wish to endure, and you will have your dental professional relieve the pain immediately.

After you call your emergency dentist, you can take various steps to relieve the pain before reaching the dental clinic. Start by rinsing your mouth with warm, salt-containing water and gently flossing around the impacted tooth to eliminate any trapped food debris. You can also take over-the-counter pain medications if necessary.

Dentists may alleviate toothaches by extracting the decay, filling the cavity, or treating the infection. Root canal treatment may be necessary if the infection or decay is more severe. If the affected tooth cannot be saved, it will need to be extracted. Regardless of what dental emergency procedure is required, the most important thing is that you will be relieved of your toothache.

Abscessed Tooth

A tooth abscess is a severe, life-threatening issue. An abscess refers to a pus-filled pocket. It may cause tender lymph nodes of the neck, fever, a projecting bump adjacent to the affected tooth, and swelling of the face. If you believe you have developed a dental abscess, you want to schedule an emergency dental appointment immediately.

A tooth abscess is an emergency as it might spread to the jawbone and other body parts if not treated. While awaiting your dental emergency visit, avoid hot drinks and foods, utilize a soft-bristled toothbrush to brush your teeth, and avoid flossing at the affected region. Before your dental visit, carefully rinse your mouth using warm, salt-containing water to bring the pus closer to the surface.

A dental abscess could be immensely painful. However, avoid painkillers like numbing gel before your dental appointment.

Severely Cracked, Fractured, or Chipped Tooth

A cracked or chipped tooth is not an emergency per se. It becomes an emergency only if the crack, chip, or fracture is severe or painful. Broken, chipped, fractured, or cracked teeth can occur due to trauma, untreated cavities, and biting on hard objects. Ignoring these problems will only worsen them, resulting in infections, more damage, and more severe pain. That is why you must seek emergency dental services.

In the meantime, you can take care of the chipped, fractured, broken, or cracked tooth before reaching the dental clinic. Swill your mouth cautiously with warm water to clean the site. After doing so, apply an ice pack to the outer part of the mouth where the chip, fracture, or crack is to alleviate any pain. Avoid chewing on the affected side to avoid more pain. Your dentist may recommend various treatment options, such as root canal therapy, a dental crown, or dental bonding.

Knocked-Out Tooth

You can suffer a knocked-out tooth due to trauma or an accident, like a fall or sporting accident. When your tooth or teeth are knocked out, you can easily panic, mainly if it is the front tooth or teeth that have been knocked out. But knocked-out teeth are not merely a cosmetic issue. Gaps in the jaw due to missing teeth can make the remaining teeth shift, causing the jawbone to weaken.

Scheduling a dental emergency appointment may save the knocked-out tooth. However, you must move fast because there is a brief window period during which an emergency dentist can return the tooth to its socket.

Before you reach your dentist's office, clean the tooth using running water while being cautious to avoid touching the tooth’s root. Also, do not scrub or remove any tissue fragments. After cleaning, return the tooth to its socket if possible and hold it in position.

If that is impossible, drop the tooth into a container of saliva or milk and let it stay there until you reach the dental clinic. Doing this will assist in maintaining the tooth’s PH balance and preserving any of its living elements. Whether you have the symptoms of a knocked-out tooth or a tooth infection, do everything possible to ensure the site is clean and no food debris exists, which might trigger more infections.

Mouth Injury or Bleeding Gums

Mouth injuries or bleeding gums can result from gum disease, vigorous brushing, or trauma. When left untreated, this problem can advance to periodontitis, which damages teeth-supporting tissues and can eventually result in tooth loss.

Should you experience a persistent mouth injury or bleeding gums, swill your mouth with warm salt-containing water and exert pressure on the impacted area using a clean cloth or gauze.

If the injury is severe or the bleeding does not stop, seek dental treatment promptly. Your dental professional can evaluate the cause of the bleeding and suggest an appropriate procedure to address it.

Fractured or Broken Jaw

A fractured or broken jaw is another severe dental-related emergency that usually accompanies accidents or facial trauma. If you believe you have suffered a jaw fracture, it is critical to keep the jaw immobile and seek urgent dental or medical help. Before you reach the hospital or dental clinic, you can place an ice pack on the outside part of the broken or fractured area to alleviate swelling.

Severely Damaged, Loose, or Lost Dental Restorations

Dental restorations like bridges, fillings, or crowns can become damaged, loose, or lost due to decay, trauma, accidents, and wear and tear. This can result in discomfort and require urgent attention to avoid further complications. Should you lose a dental restoration, call your dental professional immediately for guidance on what to do next. If you ignore a loose, lost, or damaged filling, you could expose the affected tooth to bacteria, making it highly likely to suffer further damage and decay.

Before you reach the dental office, swill your mouth using warm salt-containing water, and do not chew on the impacted tooth. Once you reach your dentist, they may recommend repairing or replacing the filling.

Severe Injury to the Soft Tissues

An injury to soft tissue, including your tongue, gums, lips, and cheeks, is a dental emergency as it can lead to severe bleeding. If you have injured your soft tissues, you should schedule an emergency dental visit. In the meantime, you can take several steps to control or stop the bleeding.

Firstly, swill your mouth using a mild saltwater solution. With a moistened gauze, piece of cloth, or caffeinated tea bag, exert pressure on the bleeding area. Hold the gauze, piece of cloth, or tea bag in place for up to twenty minutes (tea has tannic acid that assists in slowing bleeding by shrinking blood vessels).

Another way to stop the bleeding and alleviate pain is to place an ice pack on the outer part of the cheek or mouth in the impacted area for up to ten minutes. Should the bleeding persist, see your dental professional immediately. Continue exerting pressure on the bleeding area using gauze or a cloth until you see your dentist.

Partially Dislodged (Extruded) Tooth

Visit your dental professional immediately if you have an extruded tooth. Before you reach the dental clinic, try to alleviate pain by applying an ice pack on the outside of your cheek or mouth in the impacted area. You can also take over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen, naproxen, and acetaminophen if necessary.

What Does Not Count as a Dental Emergency?

Not every dental situation is an emergency. Some can wait until you schedule a routine appointment for the dentist to look at them.

A tooth cleaning or check-up does not necessitate an emergency dental visit. You can schedule regular appointments or check-ups during your leisure time or at any suitable time.

If you have a chipped tooth or part of your tooth is broken, you will not generally need an emergency dental visit to fix the problem if you are not feeling any immediate pain. Nevertheless, a dentist must attend to these problems as soon as possible before they worsen.

Whereas a minor or mild toothache must be addressed soon enough, an emergency dental visit is probably unnecessary if the pain is not intense. That said, do not merely put treatment on hold until a slight toothache becomes a significant issue.

Tooth sensitivity is prevalent and a problem that could be solved with help from your dentist. It is not an emergency, except if it is severe.

Broken or chipped dentures are also not considered dental emergencies that require immediate attention. Similarly, whereas a loose bridge or crown requires care, an emergency dental visit will not be necessary to undergo the treatment needed if you are not experiencing any pain or if it is not very loose.

Just because your dental issue is not deemed an emergency does not mean you can postpone seeking treatment. It is always ideal to address an oral problem sooner rather than later.

Find an Experienced Dentist Near Me

Understanding what is and is not a dental-related emergency is essential for timely intervention and efficient management. Whether it is a knocked-out tooth, severe toothache, or bleeding gums, understanding when to seek dental treatment makes a significant difference in maintaining oral health.

At La Puente Advanced Dentistry, we know the anxiety and urgency of dental emergencies, so we are devoted to providing immediate, compassionate dental care when needed. We boast skilled dental professionals equipped to handle various dental issues, from severe traumatic injuries to severe pain, with expertise and precision. We prioritize our patients' satisfaction and comfort, ensuring they receive high-quality treatment in a supportive and calming environment.

Whether you are experiencing persistent tooth pain or have sustained a dental injury requiring immediate attention, we can help. Do not wait until your dental issue escalates. Seek dental emergency care now, and take proactive measures to prevent dental emergencies in the future. Call us at 626-626-7075 today for a dental emergency appointment.