Schedule Now
What Constitutes a Dental Emergency?
When you are dealing with any type of dental problems, your dentist should be your very first call. But what do you do if you encounter a dental problem at an odd hour of the night, on a weekend or a holiday?
If you’re dealing with any severe dental problem outside standard office hours, you’re likely to need emergency dental services. At Family Dentistry & Aesthetics we can handle all types of dental emergencies and provide same day appointments for emergency patients.
However, we always encourage our clients to be aware of what constitutes a standard dental issue that can be dealt with within business hours. This is different than a real emergency that can become aggravated quickly or even threaten your health. Here is some information that will help you recognize dental emergencies.
Questions to Ask
While determining whether a dental problem can be considered a dental emergency, there are certain questions you should be asking yourself such as:
- Are you experiencing excruciating pain? Severe bleeding & pain are signs of an emergency.
- Do you have loose teeth (even without pain?). An adult should never have loose teeth.
- Have you suffered trauma to a tooth? Quick treatment can reduce the chances of aggravation of the problem.
- Have you lost a tooth/teeth? Immediate treatment can potentially save your teeth.
- Do you have an infection? A severe dental infection or an abscess can cause serious health problems and you should never defer this treatment. If you have an abscess you may notice knots/swelling around your face.
- Do you have bleeding in the mouth? This could be the sign of an emergency.
Asking yourself these questions before rushing to a dental office can save you some time, trouble and stress. When you call us and describe the problem, our staff would be able to tell you whether it’s a dental emergency or not and you can schedule the appointment accordingly.
Types of Dental Emergencies
The general rule of thumb is that any type of dental problems that require immediate treatment are categorized as dental emergencies. Some of these include:
- Knocked-Out Tooth
- Chipped Or Cracked Tooth
- Toothache
- Wisdom Teeth Pain
- Abscessed Tooth
- Headaches and Jaw Pain
- Gum Pain
- Severe swelling in the gums
What Isn’t Considered to Be a Dental Emergency?
If the problem you have can wait till your dentist is able to see you in a couple of days, it isn’t considered to be a dental emergency. There are times when seemingly critical problems can wait for a couple of days as long as you are able to manage the condition yourself.
For example, cracked or chipped teeth can be considered an emergency only when the fracture is extremely painful. If there are sharp fragments left in the mouth that are causing trauma that too is considered to be a dental emergency.
But if you have a chipped tooth that doesn’t hurt, you can afford to wait to see the dentist. If you have a minor toothache and there are no signs of any abscess or bumps on the gums, that too can wait.
The Best Way to Avoid Dental Emergencies
Being proactive with your oral hygiene and getting routine dental checkups is the best way to avoid dental emergencies. The dentist will conduct a thorough examination of your teeth and gums and will check for a loose crown and fillings. The other things they will check for are signs of gum disease, infection and decay.
They can design a customized treatment plan to address all these problems before they turn into an emergency. You can also focus on the signs that your teeth and body give you which indicate you might be potentially facing a dental emergency.
Following a regular dental hygiene routine helps avoid dental emergencies. However, if you find yourself dealing with an emergency, contact Family Dentistry & Aesthetics in Fort Wayne for a same day appointment.
