What Constitutes A Dental Emergency & When Should You Go?
How to Classify a Dental Emergency
Dental emergencies, like any health emergency, can be alarming. You can make an informed decision by understanding the differences between a standard oral injury and a dental emergency. When a tooth becomes broken, cracked, or damaged in some other way it can cause nerve pain. The intensity of this pain gives us helpful intuition in determining how urgent it is to receive dental services. If the patient is bleeding and it cannot be stopped it is time to seek out emergency dental care. Infections in your tooth can be a serious health concern and may require emergency treatment. If you believe you have an infection, are in severe pain, or the pain has increased see a dentist immediately. Buckeye Immediate Dental is here to provide necessary emergency treatment for our patients. If the symptoms are moderate and manageable scheduling a standard dentist appointment is likely the best course of action. If you are uncertain about whether your situation constitutes a visit to an emergency facility do what you feel is best. You can always contact Buckeye Immediate Dental to get more information and make a more informed decision. Walk-in visitors are welcome, and you can always book a dentist appointment on our website or over the phone.
Cracked Teeth
Cracked teeth are a more severe injury than a chipped tooth. When a tooth is cracked the fracture goes from the surface of your tooth inward and may go as deep as the gums, or even the root. A fracture going through the tooth can cause multiple symptoms. In some cases, the crack is nearly painless or only causes mild pain. In these situations a standard dentist appointment is sufficient. In cases like this, the pain should be manageable with some over-the-counter pain reliever. In cases where the cracked tooth results in severe pain, we consider this an emergency. Severe pain will be distracting during your day, make eating difficult, and cannot be managed with a pain reliever. Cases like this should be taken seriously. If left untreated a cracked tooth can lead to an infection. Tooth-related infections can be serious health concerns and should never be taken lightly. If you have any serious concerns don’t hesitate to seek out emergency dental treatment.
Extreme Pain Surrounding a Tooth
In cases where the pain around a tooth spreads this could be an indicator that the issue is an emergency. If the pain is mild and manageable making a standard dentist appointment is sufficient, but as the pain increases and spreads there is a greater cause for concern. If the pain is impacting a large area including your jaw, lymph nodes, and ear this may be considered a dental emergency.
Understanding what to do when you are facing oral pain can be difficult, but knowing what a dental emergency is will help you make a more informed decision. If you are still unsure about whether or not you require emergency dental care contact Buckeye Immediate Dental today.
Emergencies for Those with Braces
Oftentimes issues that arise from braces can be easily handled by an orthodontist. Common issues include jaw pain, irritation, tooth sensitivity, and general discomfort. These are expected side effects and shouldn’t be considered emergencies unless the pain becomes unmanageable. If you are experiencing mild symptoms, schedule an appointment with your orthodontist to have your braces looked at. When patients begin to experience a more severe form of pain this could be considered an emergency. This would include problems like intense and unmanageable discomfort, injury caused by a wire, or constant bleeding.
Oral injuries related to braces can also be considered dental emergencies. Any severe impacts that cause tearing inside of the mouth may be an emergency, especially if it causes swelling or bleeding. This is more common in those who participate in sports and other high-intensity activities. If a bracket breaks loose and a patient swallows it, seek emergency care. In any situation where the patient is struggling to breathe, emergency dental care should be a priority. Check our website to see when Buckeye Immediate Dental accepts walk-in appointments.
The Dangers of Ignoring an Emergency
Sometimes a patient will ignore a dental injury , especially if the pain is manageable. Depending on the severity of the injury this can lead to further problems. A crack can get worse over time. As the issue becomes worse you will experience increased sensitivity, pain, and difficulty swallowing, and it can have a major impact on your day-to-day life.
Bacteria can get into the tooth causing an infection, which will only worsen the pain and create new symptoms. Infections in your mouth can be extremely dangerous. A tooth abscess can spread infection to other parts of your body, including your brain. It’s important to understand that ignoring an oral injury can cause permanent damage, and can even result in the loss of teeth. By addressing dental emergencies immediately you are taking care of your health and ensuring the best outcome. If you are experiencing any severe symptoms, or experiencing symptoms of infection seek out emergency dental care.
Knowing Symptoms of a Dental Emergency
Some of the symptoms of a dental emergency are fairly easy to notice like tooth pain or extreme tooth sensitivity. There are less common symptoms that a patient might not even associate with their teeth, and they might not realize the root of the pain. Issues with a tooth can cause nerve pain that can impact the surrounding area, including nearby teeth, the entire jaw, and even the ear. Nerves in the area are all interconnected, which can cause the pain to spread further than we expect. Difficulty breathing due to oral pain or injury is a serious concern and should not be ignored.
If a patient has a tooth abscess there are a variety of symptoms that should be clear warning signs and taken very seriously. Pain from eating, hot and cold discomfort, fever, throbbing in the surrounding area, sensitive lymph nodes, or foul odor are all symptoms of infection. A tooth infection is very dangerous and the infection can spread causing further pain and health problems.
When to Schedule a Standard Dentist Appointment
Any of the common symptoms of oral pain should not be considered an emergency. Mild, common symptoms should be handled by your dentist. Overall the main indicators of an emergency include unmanageable pain or uncontrollable bleeding. These symptoms indicate a more severe issue that should be treated the same day. By taking immediate steps to get emergency care you can prevent losing a tooth or even worse. Any symptoms that would indicate infection will also constitute a dental emergency and should not be ignored. Come to Buckeye Immediate Dental for emergency care today.
Getting Emergency Dental Care
If you are facing a dental emergency don’t hesitate to visit during our hours for a walk-in visit. If you want to schedule an appointment you can fill out the form on our website or contact Buckeye Immediate Dental over the phone.