Dental Emergency Signs
Signs that may mean you’re approaching a dental emergency
Certain signs indicate a dental emergency approaching. The most common dental emergency sign is pain. If you start to experience tooth pain, the best practice is to go straight to the dentist before it becomes even more severe.
Usually, dental emergencies or dental pain occur at night whenever your regular dentist’s office is closed. The first tell-tale sign that points toward an approaching dental emergency is sensitivity or pain. Normally, this may mean you might have pulpitis or inflammation in either the pulp or nerve of a tooth.
Don’t wait to take care of an abscess dental emergency
One major sign you might have a dental emergency is an abscess. What’s an abscess? It resembles a small pimple on your gums. Usually, this pimple will pop throughout the day and grow again.
This is a sign of an infection, and we recommend going straight to your dentist so he or she can prescribe antibiotics.
Face swelling is a major indicator of a serious dental emergency
The second indicator that you might have a dental emergency is swelling. Swelling of the face around the mouth, eyes, or neck is likely a severe dental emergency, which might require a visit to the hospital.
Signs of swelling include redness, tenderness around your neck, throat, eyes, and under your tongue. These are all indicators of a serious dental emergency that could actually be fatal.
Exposure to bacteria in your roots can be caused by a cracked tooth
The third indicator of a dental emergency is a tooth that has been cracked. Possibly exposing the pulp of the tooth, a cracked tooth can cause severe pain.
If the tooth is cracked vertically through the roots, biting down may be painful enough to prevent eating or sleeping. The solution for a cracked tooth would be an extraction or a crown.
Past trauma can lead to dental risks in the future
Lastly, the fourth sign you may be nearing a dental emergency is trauma. Car accidents, falling on your face, or being struck in the face are examples of trauma that may result in dental emergencies.
If a tooth has fallen out or been avulsed (torn away), it is crucial that you go to the dentist as soon as possible to be able to set the tooth back into your mouth or stabilize missing or loose teeth.