With so many dental concerns, knowing which is an emergency can be challenging. For more severe cases, waiting to see a dentist can make a lot of difference in whether you’ll lose your tooth. Therefore, you should understand what qualifies as a dental emergency, the signs and symptoms of a dental emergency, and why you should seek professional emergency dental care. Read on to learn more about these from this post by Dalton Dental.
Understanding What Qualifies as a Dental Emergency
All dental pains don’t qualify as dental emergencies. Some cases can wait, while others need urgent care. You should seek urgent dental care for conditions that require immediate attention to relieve acute pain, protect your oral health, and avoid future problems. Some examples of dental incidents that need urgent dental services include the following:
- A broken tooth
- Loose tooth
- Dental abscess
- Severe toothache
Conversely, non-urgent dental emergencies are bearable dental concerns that don’t necessarily need immediate dental services. You wait until your schedule frees up or schedule a dental appointment with the dentist during regular office hours. Some of the few incidents that you may consider as non-urgent dental emergencies include the following:
- Mild toothache
- Veneers
- Gum rejuvenation lift
- Teeth whitening
- Oral cancer screening
- Dental implants
Signs and Symptoms When It’s a Dental Emergency
Many people don’t know which dental condition is severe enough to seek an emergency trip to their dentist. If you’re unsure of when to seek emergency dental services, you should look out for these signs and symptoms:
Abscessed Tooth
An abscessed tooth can be very painful and needs emergency dental services once it occurs. This condition occurs when a pocket of pus forms in your tooth due to infection. The infection can cause tender lymph, persistent toothache, fever, and tooth sensitivity to hot and cold.
A Chipped or Broken Tooth
Despite being durable, teeth are prone to breaking. This may occur when you bite on something hard or fall while playing physical sports. A minor chip or break may not warrant an urgent trip to the dentist, but you should seek immediate attention if you experience a significant fracture. These fractures expose the inner layer of your teeth, which can become infected and become a severe dental issue. The tooth may also be broken below the gumline, requiring the dentist to remove its root immediately.
Intense Toothache
Experiencing intense toothache and sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures may indicate a tooth or root infection that needs immediate care.
Bleeding Gums
It’s normal to experience a little gum bleeding after brushing or flossing. However, if you experience extreme and continuous bleeding coupled with swelling or pain, you should seek dental care immediately. This unexplained bleeding may be a sign of periodontal disease.
Why Professional Help is Important During a Dental Emergency
You may feel compelled to consider home remedies to alleviate some signs and symptoms that require an emergency dental service. However, you should seek professional help to avoid escalating your dental issue and ensure you get the proper attention. Here are some of the reasons why seeking professional help is vital during a dental emergency:
- It provides immediate pain relief, unlike home remedies that take longer
- Prevents infections
- Provide an accurate diagnosis of any underlying issues
- Access to a variety of treatment options
- Prevents permanent damage
- It saves time and money
Emergency Dental Care Near Tampa
The need for emergency dental care is paramount for specific dental concerns. Otherwise, you will put yourself at risk for severe dental issues such as infection or tooth loss. If you are looking for an emergency Dentist in Tampa, FL, Dalton Dental is here to help you. We offer emergency dental services backed by the latest technologies and the most supportive treatment environment. We also have the most flexible staff to help you get fit in immediately. Contact us today for your emergency dental service.
