By definition, dental emergencies are conditions where you need to seek immediate dental care to save a tooth or free you from pain. These are services that need to be attended to by a dentist because any delays can cause permanent damages or require you to undergo more expensive and complicated treatment procedures later on. Here are some examples that qualify an emergency trip to your dentist.
Excruciating Pain
A toothache can become so unbearable at times, yet some people would just take painkillers and ignore the problem. It is still best to consult with your dentist right away, not only to relieve you of the pain but most importantly to identify its exact cause. Some people may think that it is just a simple toothache when it could be associated with a medical problem concerning the ears or nasal tissues, especially if the pain seems to originate from the same area. Painkillers will just give you temporary relief whereas proper diagnosis will help you get the proper treatment and avoid complications.
Fractured Teeth
Did you get into a bar fight or did you accidentally bump into something hard that caused your teeth to break or get chipped? Believe it or not, your dentist can still save your teeth — as long as you pay him a visit immediately after the accident with the pieces of your broken tooth/teeth, of course. This will give you the chance to keep your natural teeth intact and avoid the cost of getting a crown or bridge procedure.
Foreign Object In between Teeth
Some people will use their teeth to bite all kinds of stuff instead of using the proper tools. As a result, they get injured and could get a foreign material lodged in between their teeth. If this happens to you, you can try to use dental floss at first but if that does not work, then go see a dentist right away. Do not try forcing the foreign matter out as this may just aggravate the pain, damage your teeth and gums, and cause bleeding. Your dentist can inspect the area closely with his instruments and will know exactly how to proceed without inflicting any further damage.
Lost Filling or Crown
This can also result in pain, not to mention the embarrassment of facing people with a gap in your teeth. The sooner you have it repaired or replaced, the better you will look and feel.
Infections
Unfortunately, some people tend to ignore seemingly small oral problems simply because they think that they can still handle the pain. Such procrastination can lead to bigger problems that will need emergency dental services. Take for example the formation of pus on the gums. This is a clear sign of infection and it may run deep in the gum tissue that can lead to the loss of teeth and other gum problems. If this happens, consult with your dentist right away to have the area examined and have the infection treated.
Bleeding
Bleeding can be caused by trauma in the gums, lips, cheeks, or tongue. You can try putting a cold compress on the area to stop the bleeding, but if that does not work, then it would be better to see your dentist right away. He may need to stitch the injury or cauterize the tissue to finally stop the bleeding.
Some oral problems can wait a day or even a week before requiring attention, but with the above examples, it will do you good to seek dental treatment right away to save your teeth and feel relief from pain.
So that our Rochester, NY dentists can properly diagnosis and treat any further damages on your teeth and gums call us at (585) 244-3337 today.
