Dental emergencies come in a wide variety of forms. On the bright side, they are seldom tough to miss as they’re happening. This, unfortunately, is because dental emergencies have a tendency to hurt really badly!
We’re looking today at some of the unmistakable signs of different dental emergencies, and what one should do if and when they arise.
How Can You Identify a Dental Emergency?
Here are a few telltale signs that a person is suffering from a dental emergency and likely needs immediate care:
- Severe toothache that is sudden and unresponsive to all at-home remedies
- Sudden and unexplained swelling of the gums or jaw
- Unexplained bleeding from the gums
- Loose permanent teeth
- Broken or loose crown(s)
- Loss of a permanent (adult) tooth, whether due to decay or trauma
What Do To When Faced With a Dental Emergency
Most toothaches can be neutralized (more or less) until a trip to the dentist can be arranged using icepacks, salt water, and over-the-counter pain meds. However, in cases of severe, persistent, and unrelenting pain, seeking out the care of an emergency dentist is recommended.
Meanwhile, swelling in the jawbone or the gums, whether explainable or not, calls for immediate care. This is because “explicable” swelling is generally the result of an injury due to trauma or direct impact, which must be treated. Unexplained swelling, meanwhile, is likely a sign of infection that can damage the teeth, gums, and jawbone, and spread to other parts of the body.
On a similar note, unexplained bleeding from the gums is usually a telltale sign of an infection or dental abscess (pocket of pus around a tooth). These, too, can result in tooth loss, gum disease, jawbone deterioration, and spread elsewhere in the body, and should thus be treated immediately.
And finally, we have tooth loss. Under no circumstances is the loss of a permanent (adult) tooth normal/not an emergency. Fortunately, knowing what to do in these instances and taking immediate action can save the natural tooth!
- Without touching its root, pick up the tooth
- Without scrubbing, rinse the tooth
- Place the tooth back in its socket in the gum if possible; if not, simply place it in a container of milk or water
- Get to an emergency dentist ASAP!
Emergency Dental Care in Fredericksburg, VA
If you’re in the Fredericksburg area and in immediate need of an emergency dentist or simply want to ensure that you’re prepared “just in case,” dentist Dr. Mohamed Elnahass and the team at Blue Bird Dentistry are here to provide you with compassionate, top-quality care in your moment of need!