Many people underestimate the impact dental problems can have on your health. This is especially true when talking about dental emergencies. These types of situations need to be addressed immediately to prevent further issues that could seriously endanger not only your mouth but your overall health. However, there are still many patients that struggle to differentiate emergency cases from non-emergency dental problems. Dental emergencies entail any problems that imply saving a tooth, alleviating severe pain, or stopping a hemorrhage. For these situations, you should visit an emergency dentist in Edmonton.
Here we’ll talk about different situations that may pose a dental emergency, in case you find yourself in a similar situation, so you can find the appropriate help.
If you have pain
Having pain while biting could be caused by severe problems such as cracked teeth, cavities, or a pulpal abscess. If you suspect you have one of these, don’t chew on the affected teeth and seek professional help. Dental pain can also be caused by bruxism, which is a condition where the patient grinds their teeth inflaming the masticatory muscles. Bruxism is not an emergency so you can schedule a regular appointment to address it.
If you had an accident
This one depends on the severity of the injuries suffered. But as a rule of thumb, you should always visit your dentist in Edmonton after suffering a fall, or trauma involving your mouth. Remember that any injury that involves your mouth could also mean head trauma, so be sure to visit the ER or make someone take you if you can’t get there by yourself. You can use ice on your jaw to reduce inflammation while you get there. Remember, when dealing with head injuries it is always best to be safe than sorry.
If you think you have a tooth abscess
The most frequent symptoms of a tooth abscess are swelling to the face, pain after chewing, as well as temperature sensitivity. These symptoms could mean you have an infection in the root of your tooth which is known as a pulpal abscess. To diagnose it, your dentist will probably order X-rays to observe the state of your roots. If you put off this condition for too long, the inside of the tooth will start necrosing and you might end up needing a root canal.
If you’re bleeding
There are many reasons why bleeding could occur. Generally, gingivitis and gum disease tend to be the most frequent causes of bleeding. If you’re seeing blood on your floss, you might have gum disease, which is not an emergency but needs to be addressed before it gets worse. So book an appointment with a dentist near you. On the contrary, if you’re bleeding spontaneously or it’s hemorrhage that won’t stop, then the problem is more severe and you need to visit the ER to have it checked. Remember to keep your mouth elevated above your heart on your way to the hospital.
If you had a cracked tooth
The management of this dental problem will depend on how big the crack in your tooth is. If it’s small, then you will want to schedule an appointment for a filling. However, if the damage is more severe, then you will need to go as soon as possible to receive adequate treatment. Your dentist will probably recommend a crown and provide directions on what to do in the meantime.
If you lost a tooth though, grab the tooth by the crown and visit your dentist immediately. You can call them and let them know your situation before arriving so they can tell you what to do and have everything ready for your treatment once you arrive.
