Did you know that in 2018, more than 2 million people visited the emergency room for a dental emergency?
Tooth pain, accidents, and infections cause people to seek emergency dental care every day.
But how do you know if your dental issue needs immediate care or if it can wait? Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about dental emergencies and what you should do.
What Is a Dental Emergency?
Usually, when you go to a planned dental appointment, it’s for a routine cleaning or a filling. A true dental emergency can be severe and life-threatening, especially if you have other health conditions.
It’s important to be aware of what to look for and the steps you need to take when dental health disasters unexpectedly strike. Your health and well-being are the most important thing. And you don’t need to be waiting around with severe pain or injuries that will cause long-term complications.
Common Dental Emergencies
If you experience bleeding, uncontrollable pain, or have an injury to your mouth, you should seek emergency dental care. Common emergencies include:
If your tooth is knocked out, you need to seek emergency dental care. The faster you get to a dentist, the better chance your tooth can be reattached.
If you break or fracture a tooth, you’ll need immediate care. Broken teeth usually mean there is damage to the root and nerves of the tooth, leading to tooth loss.
An injury to your mouth or gums that continues to bleed needs to be looked at a soon as possible. Any bleeding along with facial pain needs immediate attention.
Abscesses and infections can be severe and life-threatening if left untreated. You should see your dentist right away for treatment if this occurs.
Other Dental Issues
Other dental problems like a mild toothache can wait until the next day, as long as you don’t have severe pain or swelling. A mild chip to your tooth that doesn’t cause you much pain or bleeding can also be treated with a dental procedure the next day.
Preventing Dental Emergencies
The best way to prevent dental emergencies is to know how to avoid them. The first thing you can do is make sure you visit your dentist regularly. If you don’t have a regular dentist, you can check out the services this dentist offers or find a similar one in your area.
If you play contact sports, wear a mouthguard before heading out to your game.
You also need to watch how you eat your favorite foods. It’s easier than you think to crack or chip a tooth, so careful while indulging in those hard candies.
Many people also have habits like biting nails and chewing on pen caps or other non-food items. Keep in mind this is one of the easiest ways to chip a tooth or cause an infection.
Dental Emergency
Remember, if you have a dental emergency, don’t put your health at risk by waiting to seek care. Your dental health is a key part of your overall health and well-being.
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