Dental Emergencies: Where to Find Help
Accidents and emergencies happen. Even to our teeth. And when those dental emergencies occur, it can be an unpleasant and painful experience. Knowing when a dental emergency needs a doctor and when it needs a dentist is important for when and how you seek treatment.
What is a dental emergency?
Dental emergencies come in different forms. They usually involve pain and physical damage to the mouth or surrounding areas.
Symptoms
Symptoms of a dental emergency include:
Intense pain
Bleeding that won't stop
Swelling or bruising
Fever
Foul taste
Types
There are several types of problems that count as dental emergencies:
An abscess
A broken or cracked tooth, crown, or implant
A dislodged or knocked out tooth, crown, or implant
Intense pain in your jaw, tooth, or teeth
Bleeding gums
Soft-tissue Injuries (like a cut to your cheek or tongue)
Where can I get help?
When a dental emergency strikes, it's difficult to decide if you need to see a dentist or go to the emergency room for treatment. The first step is to contact your dentist. If it's during business hours, they will give you advice on the best course of treatment. If it's outside of regular hours, they will likely have a message that tells you who to contact and what to do for an emergency.
However, dental emergencies related to trauma and injury need immediate attention and require a trip to the ER or a 911 call. These involve:
A broken, fractured, or dislocated jaw
Deep cuts to the face and/or mouth
An infection with extreme swelling that affects your breathing or ability to swallow
Other issues, though painful and concerning, can't wait for the dentist. These include issues such as
A cracked or broken tooth without intense pain
A broken or lost crown or bridge
An infection that does not cause excessive swelling
How can I prevent a dental emergency?
While we can't always prevent accidents that cause a dental emergency, we can take steps to lessen the chance of them happening.
Wear a mouthguard for sports
Don't chew hard foods like popcorn kernels and hard candy
Don't chew sticky foods like taffy or caramel
Don't try to open packages or unscrew lids with your teeth
How can Charlotte Dental Esthetics help me?
Charlotte Dental Esthetics is here to help you with your dental emergencies. Please contact us today if you are injured or struggling with pain and swelling. If you go to the ER, you can follow up with us to continue your medical care. Please use these links for more information about our other services and more about oral health care.