4 Signs You Need Emergency Dental Care

Damage to teeth and gums can’t be ignored. It’s always important to act quickly if something is wrong, but some dental issues are more pressing than others. How can you know the difference between a dental problem that needs to be solved soon and a problem that needs to be solved now?

We never want our patients to put off a dental procedure when it could lead to lasting harm, so we’ve compiled a list of important warning signs that you need an urgent dental appointment. After all, you’ve only got so many teeth — it’s best to keep them all in good shape.

4 Common Dental Emergencies:

1. Dental abscesses
   A dental abscess is a small collection of pus inside of a tooth or gums that is caused by a bacterial infection. If your symptoms include shiny red swollen gums, a fever, or pain that spreads to your jaw or neck, you may have an abscess, even if you don’t see it. Try to see us as soon as possible, but in the meantime, you can reduce the abscess pain by avoiding cold drinks. Use a soft toothbrush to gently clean the area until we can get you into the office.
2. Broken or missing teeth
   Obviously, physical damage to your teeth is one of the most urgent dental emergencies you can experience. If your tooth has been damaged, rinse your mouth with warm water immediately and call us immediately. If your tooth has come out, gently try to put it back into the socket (without touching the root!) or keep it in your mouth to protect it until we can see you.
3. Significant pain or swelling in the teeth, gums, or jaw
   Constant pain or swelling in your mouth is never normal! This symptom may seem vague or common, but it could be a sign of major damage or an infection that could have nasty results if left untreated. Don’t tough it out. Call us, and we will decide together whether you need to come in for an appointment.
4. Lost filling or crown
   A dental crown or tooth filling can become loose or even fall out for various reasons. If you lose a crown or filling, it’s important to try to save it — we may be able to reuse it. Rinse the area with warm salt water and continue to brush the damaged tooth (gently!) until we can see you.

Ignoring any of these dental problems could result in the permanent loss of teeth. Infections can even spread to other parts of your body and cause serious general medical issues, so it’s extremely important to call us if you’re experiencing any of the dental emergencies on this list!

If you are in pain, we want to help you get some relief. Then, we can address any underlying causes to solve the problem. If you believe you’re experiencing a dental emergency, call us as soon as possible. We’ll get you an appointment in the near future so you can go back to your life and leave tooth pain behind.