4 Signs You Need Emergency Dental Care

Figuring out if the oral issue you are dealing with requires emergency dental care is not always an easy task. You do not want to have to make an unexpected trip to the dentist, but also you do not want to put your oral and overall health at risk either. Fortunately, we are here to help you figure out which issues count as a dental emergency. Here are some signs that you need to see an emergency dentist:

Indicators emergency dental care is needed

1. A tooth is severely damaged

Small chips are no big deal, but one that affects the inner layers is. A broken or cracked tooth is almost always a dental emergency. A good way to determine if the damage to a tooth counts as an emergency is to ask these questions:

• Is there blood coming from inside the tooth?
• Is there pain coming from the tooth?
• Has the tooth been broken up into segments?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, emergency care is needed.

2. Persistent tooth pain

Excruciating pain coming from a tooth that refuses to go away might be a sign it has been infected. The pain that comes with an infected tooth is not like your average toothache. It is usually one of the things that forces people with extreme dental phobias to finally go to the dentist. Once a root canal is performed on the tooth, the pain should go away.

3. Swollen gums and jaw

A person's jaw or gums being swollen can be a sign of an infection. It can lead to the development of an abscess, which is a pus pocket that forms due to an infection in the mouth. This condition will continue to worsen until it spreads to other parts of the body, where it can become a life-threatening problem.

4. A tooth falls out

If a tooth falls out due to trauma or biting on something hard, that is always a dental emergency. Time is extremely important, since it determines the odds of the tooth being successfully reattached. In many cases, a knocked out tooth can be reattached if the person seeks emergency dental care.

To preserve the tooth, the person should place it in some milk or saliva and take it with them to the dentist. If the dentist is not able to attach the tooth that fell out, it can be replaced with a prosthetic like an implant.

5. An injury to the soft areas of the mouth

If a person damages the soft areas of the mouth like the cheeks, gums, tongue and lips, a visit to an emergency dentist is important. The dentist will treat the injury and prescribe medication to prevent infection and manage any pain.

Do not take any chances

When it comes to making a trip to an emergency dentist, it is better to visit one and realize the issue did not count as an emergency than to fail to get the fast treatment that you need. Stop by our San Antonio office if you are dealing with a dental emergency.

Request an appointment here: https://www.preferreddentalcenter.com or call Preferred Dental Center at (210) 822-8500 for an appointment in our San Antonio office.

Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.