How Do I Know that My Tooth Needs an Emergency Dentist?

Emergencies can happen at any time of the day. But what to do if you need a dental emergency? Most dental issues aren’t serious. Oral injuries can occur from mild to extreme. When some people face an oral injury, they are not sure whether they need to look for dental treatment immediately or wait for a more appropriate time to go to their Coopersburg dentist.

Dental emergencies can cause a ton of pain and uneasiness. They can happen to anybody, no matter how much dental care they’ve had before. When an emergency dentist gets a patient with an urgent dental issue, he/she tries hard to save the impacted tooth.

Indications of a Tooth Emergency

The following are a few signs that show your oral injury is serious and needs urgent medical attention:

Bleeding Gums

Bleeding gums signify an infection or gum disease. When not treated as soon as possible, gum disease will become painful and may result in tooth loss. So if you have gum bleeding for a long time, particularly after a tooth extraction, call the dentist emergency line or go to an emergency dental clinic.

Tooth Pain and Swelling

Treat tooth pain and swelling by washing your mouth with warm water. It will help to dislodge any leftover food items between your teeth. Thus, if your face feels swollen and painful, a cold pack can help.

Persistent Toothache

Lingering toothache in or around the tooth is another warning sign you should not ignore. It can lead to tooth rot, abscessed tooth, tooth breakage or fracture, infected gums, and damaged fillings. If your toothaches last longer than a couple of days or accompany by fever, ear infection, or extreme pain in the tooth, see a dentist as soon as possible.

Broken or Chipped Tooth

If you have a damaged tooth, carefully wash your mouth using warm water to loosen up any food or debris. Apply a cold pack to your cheek to reduce the swelling and distress. Also, clean the damaged tooth and try to save its parts as you do for a knocked-out tooth.

Swollen Jaw or Mouth

If your mouth or jaw unexpectedly becomes swollen for unknown reasons, it’s a good idea to fix an appointment with an emergency dentist for immediate treatment. You might have contamination, irritation to the lymph nodes, or other issues that need professional emergency dental care immediately.

Exposed Nerves

Exposed nerves are a bad experience that turns worse if you wait to see your dentist. When the sensitive tooth nerves lose their protection, they get more prone to bacteria, plaque, extreme temperatures, and acids. To prevent infections, further nerve breakage, or more extensive emergency dental treatments, seek immediate dental help as quickly as possible.

Bad Breath

Bad breath is not a reason for an emergency. However, if your breath is deteriorating and you feel pain in your mouth, you are most likely to have a bad cavity or an infection. Usually, bad breath is an indication of oral health or physical health issues.

Missing Filling or Crown

Fillings and crowns work effectively to support your teeth against decay. They protect the deeper layers of your teeth. But none of these restorations stay forever. If you have the crown, keep it in a cool and safe spot as there is a possibility that your dentist can reinsert it.

Symptoms of Abscesses

An abscess is a painful infection in the base of a tooth. Normally, an untreated cavity or advancing phase of gum disease causes it. Physical injury to your mouth, including chipping or breaking a tooth is the common reason for developing an abscess.

There are usually three kinds of dental abscesses – periodontal, gingival, and periapical. The abscess type will indicate the location and severity of the symptoms.

You can figure out dental abscesses by the following symptoms:

• Fever
• Bad breath
• Pus
• Swollen organs
• Bad smell in your mouth

Contact Us for Urgent Dental Care

Dental emergencies can make your life “hell.” While searching for an experienced emergency dentist, you want a practice you can depend on. At Coopersburg Dental, we pride ourselves on offering the best emergency dentistry in Coopersburg, PA. Get in touch with our expert today.