What Reasons Qualify for a Trip to an Emergency Dentistry Office?

Going to the emergency dentistry center is likely your first thought when something in your mouth hurts. An urgent dental care dentist will be able to target the problem right away. But if you want to make sure your trip will be worthwhile, you should know if what you are experiencing qualifies as a dental emergency.

Reasons for a trip to an emergency dentistry office

If a patient wants to know if their dental issue needs an emergency dentistry visit, here are the details.

Dental damage

Broken, chipped, or fractured teeth can result in irritation, infection, and other possible complications. The damage can worsen until it reaches the pulp. When this happens, the pulp gets infected due to the entry of food particles and bacteria. Infections and decay will progress and then lead to tooth loss.

Going to an emergency dentistry facility at the first sign of infection can put the patient ahead of the situation. Any damage can receive treatment, which could prevent more infections from developing and spreading. It could even encourage the patient to see the dentist more often.

Dental trauma that results in tooth loss

Losing a tooth because of a hard blow to the head or face is an emergency dentistry situation. The dentist will inspect the site of the tooth loss to see if the surrounding nerves and tissue are damaged. If the patient was able to save the tooth, they should place it in milk. This will keep the tooth moist and alive. The dentist will examine and reattach it if it is still viable.

Unrelenting tooth pain

An individual can have different types of tooth pain. Some of these aches can go away by taking over-the-counter pain medications. Others can be debilitating and distracting enough to interrupt daily activities and sleep. This type of tooth pain is a sign of a severe dental issue that requires quick treatment from an emergency dentistry professional. This pain may also be triggered by a fracture, infection, or sensitivity.

Missing dental prosthetics

People who have lost their fillings, crowns, or veneers tend to panic. An emergency dentistry professional can replace these lost dental restorations, though it may take time. Crowns or veneers that have fallen off may take a week or so to restore because the dentist will need crowns and porcelain shells made according to the patient’s specific needs.

Severe gum bleeding

Blood from the gums is not a good sign. It can be an indicator of infection and gum disease. The early stages of infection are easy to treat. But once the infection spreads to other areas of the body, treatment becomes complicated. Mild gum infection is reversible, but once it worsens to periodontitis, the effects are permanent.

Gum bleeding may sometimes result from an underlying health issue. Seeing the attending doctor first can address this issue. Proper lab tests can determine what is going on. This can help the patient feel more at peace before or after the emergency dentistry visit.