Emergencies are inevitable part of human life. They come as a surprise in our lives, often putting us into great dilemma. A dilemma about whether or not to visit an emergency dentist near me starts surfacing.
Life can be unforgiving at times. And you may end up with a dental emergency that needs your immediate, undivided attention. Unfortunately, a very few understands what counts as a dental emergency. This is where the problem begins.
This indicates the need to know what is a dental emergency in the first place. If you do not know what it is, you cannot take steps to prevent it.
How Would Dentists Define Dental Emergencies?
Dental emergencies are more common than one may think. To understand whether or not you have an emergency, there are certain pointers you can refer to. Below we discuss them to give you a better insight into dental emergencies.
- Is there severe pain involved? Severe pain in your teeth accompanies with immense bleeding are signs that you must visit your nearest dentist.
- Is there any bleeding from your mouth? Do not wait until last minute and take actions as soon as you experience bleeding from the mouth.
- Do you have a loose tooth? A loose tooth in an adult is not only uncommon but serious too. You can say it is an emergency.
- Have you lost a tooth during an injury? See a dentist if you lost a tooth.
- Any infection flared up? A dental abscess, if unnoticed can result in major life-threatening consequences. You should not wait until morning.
In essence, any dental issue that demands instant attention is considered a dental emergency.
When Is It Not an Emergency Then?
Some issues with your teeth are not considered emergencies but that does not mean you should avoid visiting a dentist clinic. Conditions such as a chipped tooth, generalized toothache, or lost filling can wait but if you delay seeing a dentist, it could cause you a great unfortune in the long run.
There is no hard and fast rule when it comes to deciding whether it is an emergency or not. You should always consider consulting with your dentist if you think there is an issue with your teeth. Do not jump into conclusion without taking expert advice on your dental issues. It can be detrimental to your dental and monetary health too.
Below we provide you with the list of non-emergency dental conditions:
- Sensitive teeth
- Discomfort in dentures
- Bleeding gums
- A sharp pain during biting
- A minor toothache that comes and goes
- A loose crown or veneer
- A broken tooth
Common Dental Emergencies
You are asked to call your dentist to seek emergency treatment if you experience the following conditions:
- Severe dental pain
Have you been experiencing that unexplainable dental pain for quite a while now? You should not take toothaches lightly. While you may think the problem will go away after a while, often it is not the case. You must seek emergency treatment to prevent further complications.
- Bleeding gums
While irritation in gums is common and not an emergency, if your gums would not stop bleeding, and you experience sharp pain and swelling, consider seeing an emergency dentist. Swollen or bleeding gums indicate an underlying dental issue that should not be left unchecked.
- Swollen jaw
You must visit an emergency clinic if your jaw suddenly becomes swollen. It may be because of an infection, irritation to the lymph nodes or something out of your knowledge. You should not take risks in such a scenario.
- A knocked-out tooth
Have you succumbed to an injury and as a result lost a tooth? As soon as it happens, go visit an emergency dentist as the impact from the injury can be irreversible if left unchecked. Sometimes, it is also possible for your dentist to reinsert and preserve the tooth if you take prompt action.
Before seeing your dentist, make sure you:
- Pick up the tooth without touching its root
- Rinse the tooth without scrubbing
- Try reinserting the tooth
- If you can’t, put it in a container of water
- Visit your dentist right away
- Missing filling
This is another potential dental emergency and you should not avoid seeing an emergency dentist. This is because your tooth is more prone to break without that reinforcement. What’s worse? The tooth may even expose the nerves underneath, resulting in a number of other issues that need immediate treatment.
- Broken dental crown
If your dental crown breaks, it leaves your tooth exposed and more susceptible to infection. Schedule an emergency visit to your dentist and replace the crown as soon as possible. If you do so, you can avoid undergoing a root canal, tooth extraction, or other dental procedures.
- An abscess
A dental abscess is a potentially life-threatening condition that can lead to an infection if unnoticed. This becomes an emergency once the infection spreads into your jaw, surrounding tissues, and other organs of the body. To avoid potential effects of dental abscess, you must see a dentist.
Difference Between a Dental and Medical Emergency
A dental emergency applies to oral health. While it may need immediate treatment, it may not necessarily pose a threat to one’s medical health. Take a knocked-out tooth, it is a dental emergency because it needs immediate attention to be preserve. However, it is not a medical emergency unless you have experienced trauma to other parts of your body.
A medical emergency is, therefore, a sudden trauma or series of symptoms that pose a threat to the patient’s life and can only be treated by an emergency doctor.
Should You Call 111 for a Dental Emergency?
Maybe you are unsure about whether it is a dental emergency or you should go to A&. In such cases, you should call the NHS helpline 111. They will be able to tell whether you need to see a dentist or visit A&E.You may not want to contact Emergency Dentist London for dental emergencies Near Me as they will not be able to offer emergency or out-of-hours dental care.
