The dictionary defines an emergency as “an urgent need for assistance or relief.” Your dentist defines it as “anything that requires emergency dental assistance to control bleeding, pain, and swelling.” Keep reading to learn more about the variety of dental emergencies that exist and what you can do when they occur.
Common Dental Emergencies
Acute Pain
If you have sharp or severe sudden dental pain that does not go away, even with over-the-counter pain medication or other home remedies, you have a dental emergency. To find the cause and the solution, it is important to seek emergency dental care. If the pain goes away, it is recommended to visit your dentist in a timely manner so they can examine you for cavities and other potential causes of pain and prevent the pain from reoccurring.
Bleeding
Continual bleeding from the gums or elsewhere in the mouth is a dental emergency, especially if you have not suffered an accident or injury to the mouth nor had recent dental surgery. Contact your dentist for emergency care, which may include over-the-phone instructions to apply gauze to the bleeding.
Broken Teeth
Breaking or knocking out a tooth may hurt severely, or it may not hurt much at all. Either way, it is an emergency, and you should seek dental assistance to prevent future pain and problems. If you have lost but not broken your tooth, try to recuperate it. A dentist may be able to reattach it if it is still healthy when you arrive.
Swelling
As with broken teeth, swelling may or may not hurt, but it certainly is a sign of something emergent happening in your mouth. Injury and sores are obvious causes of swelling, but dehydration or bacterial infections are less obvious reasons for swelling. Whatever the cause, seek dental emergency assistance from your dental team.
Signs of Infection
Pain, swelling, and bleeding are common reasons for people to seek emergency dental care, but it is important to be aware of other important signs of infection that require immediate assistance. These include bad breath, a bitter taste in the mouth, inflamed gums, and fever.
If ignored, dental infections can have life-threatening consequences, such as sepsis and cavernous sinus thrombosis, so do not delay in seeking dental care. Sever signs of infection include fever, difficulty breathing, trouble swallowing.
How to Avoid Dental Emergencies
To avoid emergencies due to poor dental hygiene, be sure to floss and brush regularly, and visit the dentist regularly for examinations, cleanings, and general dentistry services.
Find a Dental Emergency Clinic in Edmonton
If you are in Edmonton and have one of the dental emergencies listed above or another one not listed, contact Westmount Dental Centre. We offer daily, extended hours in northwest Edmonton to serve you during dental emergencies. We are located in Westmount Shopping Centre near Telus World of Science.