What Is Considered to be a Dental Emergency?
We can all agree that dental emergencies will always catch you flat-footed. You never really be fully prepared for one. A dental emergency will not care if you are having a blast with your family, running an errand, or enjoying a jog. When it strikes, you will have no choice but to visit our emergency dentist in Salem, MA.
It’s always wise to dash to our emergency dental clinic to get treatment. The reason is quite simple; dental emergencies are no different from other medical emergencies, so they are time-sensitive. So, if you take more time to seek emergency dental services, you might end up making your situation much worse.
But one of the mind-boggling things for most people is to differentiate between a non-dental emergency from a dental emergency. This is a common concern, and most people get more confused, which leads to panic. Nothing is worse than panic during a dental emergency. So, do you want to know the difference between a non-dental emergency and a dental emergency? Read on.
How Can You Tell If You Are In a Dental Emergency?
Dental emergencies may seem a bit complex to decipher when you are in the thick of things. Your panic levels may sky-rocket, and you might believe that everything is wrong. On the other hand, you might downplay your issue, and it turns out to be an issue that needs to be resolved within 30 minutes, as is the case with knocked-out teeth.
In a nutshell, you can view a dental emergency as any scenario where your gums, tongue, jaw, or teeth are extremely painful and uncomfortable, and at times, life-threatening.
Dental emergencies are prevalent and can occur to anyone at any time. They can range from toothaches and infections to locked or dislocated jaws.
But you need to know that not every uncomfortable or slightly painful issue is a dental emergency. For this reason, you will find the following questions quite helpful in case you or a loved one is wondering whether it’s a dental emergency or not:
- Is your tooth partially knocked out, or do you have a lost tooth?
- Are your permanent teeth loose?
- Are you in extreme and persistent pain?
- Is your tooth broken, bleeding, and in excruciating pain?
- Do you have tender, red, and swollen gums? Is this accompanied by a fever, bad breath, and even a bitter or metallic taste in your mouth?
- Are you bleeding incessantly?
If, by any chance, your answer to the above questions is in the affirmative, you need to visit our emergency dentist in Salem, MA, for immediate dental care.
In simple words, if your situation requires immediate dental treatment to alleviate pain, stop bleeding, treat an infection or save a tooth, it’s safe to say that you are in a dental emergency.
Some Examples of Common Dental Emergencies
Dental emergencies will always come in different shapes and forms. But the ones that most people encounter are:
- Abscess
When you have an untreated cavity and the decay has reached the roots, bacteria get the chance to multiply in the root canal. If this is not addressed, an infection known as an abscess may develop. The reason why an abscess is considered a dental emergency is that it is potentially life-threatening.
- Fractured Tooth
Tooth fractures tend to be painful, especially if the fracture has reached the roots. If it gets to the roots, you are at risk of developing an infection at the roots.
- Knocked-Out Tooth
Teeth usually get knocked out because of trauma. If this is the case, you will need to move swiftly to increase your chances of saving your tooth. If you can reach our emergency dental clinic within 30 minutes, there is a high chance that our dentist may re-insert the tooth.
Other Potential Dental Emergencies
Some situations may be confusing since, to some extent, they seem like dental emergencies, and on the other hand, they don’t qualify to be treated as such. If this is the case, the severity of the issue may warrant that you seek immediate care. Some of these scenarios include:
- Orthodontic wires cause discomfort
- Objects stuck in your mouth
- Multiple cavities that are causing toothaches
- Lost, broken, or painful dental restoration
What Doesn’t Qualify to be a Dental Emergency?
Can your issue be solved later, even after a day or two? If your answer is yes, you are not facing a dental emergency.
But if you are still not sure, you can contact us at Mass Bay Dental, and we would love to help you.