A dental emergency isn’t always as urgent as it sounds. It could be the reason why you can still read this article despite having suspected a need for it.
So, how do you draw the line between an urgent dental emergency and a non-urgent one? In this article, we’ll clarify their differences so you can decide whether to call your dentist right now or to set up an emergency dental care appointment the next day.
The Real Urgent Dental Emergencies
True dental emergencies are instances where you need immediate dental care service even if they occur outside normal business hours. Here are some common situations:
1. Severe Toothache
Do you have a throbbing and persistent toothache that radiates to your ear or neck? Or a fever coupled difficulty in swallowing or breathing? If it’s all of these and more, drop everything and call for an emergency doctor right away.
Severe toothache may mean many things (swollen lymph nodes or ruptured abscess, for example) and you don’t want to wait or there can be other serious complications. Contact your emergency dental care provider immediately if this is the case.
2. Knocked-Out Tooth
If you’re into playing physical sports, you’re likely to have knocked-out teeth and 30 minutes is about the time you have to save them.
What do you do if so? Call your dentist. Pick up your tooth by the crown, rinse it with clear water, and gently hold or bite it down back to its socket. If this isn’t possible, place your tooth in a small container submerged in milk or saliva and run to your dentist right away.
3. Dental Abscess
A dental abscess is a bacterial infection in your tooth that can be extremely painful and dangerous when taken lightly. If it enters your bloodstream, you can develop a systemic blood infection so your doctor will want to prescribe an antibiotic to treat it. Further diagnosis and treatment may also be necessary to make sure it doesn’t stay.
4. Broken or Cracked Tooth with Severe Pain
While a broken or cracked tooth doesn’t always call for an emergency, they can come with extreme pain and swelling. The real threat, however, is the possibility of an infection when they linger. Thus, the best first action is to call for an emergency dental care. Before running to your dentist, rinse your mouth with warm water first and apply cold compress where the pain is.
Non-Urgent Dental Emergencies
If you have a minor toothache over the weekend, a visit to the dentist may not immediately be necessary and could wait until Monday. These non-urgent dental emergencies include:
- Small crack or chip in the tooth
- Lost filling, crown or bridge
- Food stuck in teeth
- Dull toothache
- Bitten lip or tongue
These are some non-urgent dental situations, but remember that contacting your dentist as soon as you can is still very important.
Contact the Nearest Dentist Near You For Urgent and Non-Urgent Dental Emergency
You don’t need to assess the situation and make the decision on your own. Our office is open 24/7 and ready to help you out whatever your dental emergency is. Give us a call at 1-000-111-2222 to book a same-day or next-day appointment with one of our partners.
