When Should You Go to an Emergency Dentist?
When you’re facing a dental emergency, it can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially when finding a qualified emergency dentist on such short notice.
Some people avoid dentists or doubt their predicament warrants an emergency appointment during urgent situations like these.
However, not seeing a dentist when you’re experiencing a true emergency can threaten your health and cause permanent damage to your mouth.
Check out these dental emergencies to learn when you need professional help.
You Have Severe Tooth Pain
Severe toothaches can hint at more significant dental issues. They can indicate tooth decay, and if you are in persistent excruciating pain, you need to see an emergency dentist as quickly as possible.
Addressing it right away will allow your dentist to identify any possible infections and get to the root of the problem before additional damage happens.
You Have an Infection
A tooth infection, or abscess, can occur anywhere in the mouth. Untreated abscesses can cause serious health problems and spread the disease to different parts of the mouth and body.
If caught in the early stages, an emergency dentist will drain the abscess, eliminate the infection, and possibly save your tooth with a root canal. Otherwise, it will need to be pulled.
Some common symptoms of a tooth abscess include:
- Swelling in your cheeks and face
- Fever
- Pulsing tooth pain
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Teeth sensitivity
If you experience any combination of these symptoms, contact a reputable emergency dentist immediately before the situation worsens.
You Have a Broken Tooth
Fractured teeth are a serious dental emergency. This type of injury is often due to car accidents and sports injuries. When you break your teeth, it is a harrowing, painful experience.
Serious injuries can result in the exposure of dentin and pulp. If this happens, you will need immediate treatment to remedy the fracture. An emergency dentist will use sedatives to reduce oral pain and may decide to extract the tooth.
Your Tooth Has Been Knocked Out
When you lose your permanent teeth (tooth avulsion), you must see an emergency dentist as quickly as possible. This is because there’s limited time from when your tooth leaves its socket to reimplant it successfully.
A good rule of thumb is to seek treatment within an hour of the avulsion. You can make things much easier for your dentist by:
- Only handling the part of the tooth that’s typically exposed
- Cleaning the tooth with water or milk
- Re-inserting the tooth, if possible, and holding it in place
Doing these things and being careful not to introduce bacteria to the tooth can increase the likelihood of successful reimplantation.
Emergency Dental Procedures
Depending on the type of emergency you’re experiencing, your dentist will educate you on the services available. The most common emergency dental treatments are root canals, fillings, tooth extractions, and crowns.
Root Canals
Root canals treat the center of the tooth, the most sensitive area. Your dentist may recommend this procedure if they determine the center to be inflamed, infected, or badly decayed. They’ll make this decision based on severity and x-ray scans.
Fillings
Tooth decay and broken or cracked teeth are why composite fillings are offered as emergency dental services. This procedure prevents further decay of the tooth and wards off infection. It can also improve the appearance of your teeth.
Tooth Extractions
When reserving your tooth would cause further damage to your health, your dentist will opt for a tooth extraction. Your emergency dentist will permanently remove the tooth from its socket, and you can leave the space empty or replace it with a bridge or implant.
Crowns
Crowns support weakened, cracked, and broken teeth. These porcelain pieces fit right over your existing tooth, typically in combination with other dental procedures like bridges and root canals.
Contact an Emergency Dentist in Shelby Township, MI
The pain and anxiety of handling dental emergencies can be challenging, but being seen by an experienced emergency dentist doesn’t have to be.
At Dr. Timothy Roney DDS & Associates, we offer same-day emergency appointments to existing and new clients in Shelby Township, MI. We have over 21 years of experience helping people achieve the smiles they deserve. Let us help you.
If you’re looking for an emergency dentist in Shelby Township, MI, call our team at Dr. Timothy Roney DDS & Associates today for an appointment!
