You might sometimes come across a dental emergency that requires immediate dental care. Some emergencies, however, might require patience and a few deep breaths. If you have a dental emergency, it’s great to know when you need to pursue emergency dentistry services or visit your local emergency room.
Learning about your symptoms and checking their severity can help you decide the best way forward. This ensures that you are always prepared since you never know when you can have an emergency. Read on to know the different dental emergencies and what to do in an emergency.
Common Dental Emergencies
Bleeding can cause concern since it’s a warning sign of gum disease or gingivitis. This can happen when flossing, and you might even notice a smell. Other signs to look for include aching or swelling gums. Early treatment of gum disease is crucial since, when left unchecked, it can make it hard to return your teeth to their healthy state.
Cracked or broken teeth also count as dental emergencies. The location and severity of the crack can help your dentist determine the best treatment route. In such an instance, emergency dentistry works towards saving your tooth. Therefore, you need to see the dentist once you crack or break a tooth.
A popping jaw is another reason why you might need emergency dentistry services. A popping or a locked jaw can lead to painful chewing, and it causes a grinding or clicking noise when the jaw is open. It limits the movement of your jaw, and the best solution is to have your dentist take a look immediately. This helps resolve the problem while avoiding more issues.
What Should I Do if I Have a Dental Emergency?
The first thing to do with a dental emergency is to call your dentist. They may be able to see you, especially during regular business hours. If it’s outside the normal business hours, you can opt for other care options like the ER or an urgent care center. Besides contacting your dentist, there are a few things you can do in case you have a broken or knocked-out tooth. You can save and preserve your tooth by putting it in milk and packing the socket with a teabag, cotton ball, or gauze. For a broken tooth, you should rinse your mouth and save the pieces if possible.
Emergency Dentistry vs. the ER
If a dental emergency occurs during normal business hours, you should see your dentist. However, you can go to the ER if an emergency occurs outside of normal business hours. If you don’t know where to go, you can call your dentist for advice on where to seek care.
After identifying a dental emergency and knowing whether to visit your dentist or the ER, you should review your dental plan. It helps you understand your emergency dental coverage. Besides, you get to know how much the plan caters to dental emergencies. On the other hand, contacting your dentist immediately can help take care of the teeth, thus avoiding serious dental problems.
At Coolbreeze Dentistry, we are here when you need us for dental emergency care. Reach out to our friendly staff to answer any questions or when you need to schedule an appointment. Call (972) 432-8811.