How Do You Know if a Dental Issue is Truly an Emergency?

Many dental issues can be temporarily treated using simple methods at home. That buys time until you can set up an appointment and have a dentist examine your teeth and gums. Unfortunately, there are some issues that cannot wait; they need immediate attention by one of the Westfield dentists near you. How do you tell the difference between something that needs treatment soon and a problem that requires immediate attention? Here are some signs you are dealing with a real dental emergency. 

Sudden Tooth Looseness or Loss

That direct blow to the mouth did more than cause your lips to swell and bruise your ego. As a result of the blow, you now have teeth that are loosened. Worse, a couple of them have popped out of the sockets. In cases like this, there’s no time to lose. 

All of those teeth need to be resettled in the gums as soon as possible. You also need advice on how to keep the teeth that popped out viable while en route to the emergency dentist. Quick action by yourself and a dental professional increases the odds that you won’t lose any of those teeth. 

Unusual Gum Swelling

Gum swelling around the base of one or more teeth is nothing to take lightly. It’s not just the discomfort; swelling of this type indicates the presence of an infection. Given the fact that infections can impact the entire body and not just the mouth is reason enough to seek help at once. 

If you want to prevent the infection from spreading and causing damage, the only smart move is to contact an emergency dentist and see the professional at once. After the dentist assesses the issue and provides a treatment, you may begin to see a difference within hours. 

Bleeding That Shows No Signs of Slowing Down

While your teeth were not loosened during the fall, there is bleeding. In fact, it isn’t slowing down at all. It appears to be getting worse. No matter what you do, nothing seems to get any better. 

This is a true dental emergency in that there’s likely more damage than you realize. A dentist can order tests that shed more light on the problem, isolate the reason for the bleeding, and take action to correct the issue. Prompt action will reduce the risk of infections or the development of several other concerns. 

Pain That Nothing Seems to Lessen

When the pain began, you figured it would be easy to deal with it at home until the dentist could see you in a few days. That turned out to not be the case. You’ve tried everything to help ease the pain. From taking over the counter pain relievers to using ice packs, then trying heat, to rubbing the gums with different substances recommended by loved ones, nothing seems to make a bit of difference. Worse, the pain is so strong that you can’t even sleep and enjoy some respite from the discomfort. 

The fact that the pain is constant and isn’t eased by anything that you do is a sign something unusual is happening. At this juncture, the only thing you can do is call for emergency dental help. Only after the origin of the pain is isolated will it be possible to setting on a course of treatment that resolves the problem and helps ease the pain at the same time. 

Whatever the issue seems to be, don’t spend too much time wondering if it’s a dental emergency or if it’s something that can wait a day or two. Call your dentist and describe what’s happening. Be detailed in what you’re experiencing and what steps you’ve taken up to this point. Always answer any questions in full. Doing so will make it easier for the dentist to make a preliminary assessment, and tell you if some type of treatment is needed right now. 

This is a guest blog entry.