Imagine you’re at a family gathering, enjoying a huge feast. You bite down on a seemingly harmless piece of candy, and suddenly, you feel a sharp and intense pain in one of your teeth. This unpleasant surprise sends shock waves through your mouth.
Upon inspection in a mirror, you see a large crack in your tooth, accompanied by a small, but concerning, chipped tooth. Not only does it hurt, but it’s also causing distress as you can’t properly chew your food. Panic and fear start to set in, realizing you just found yourself in the middle of a dental emergency.
In this situation, it’s extremely important to schedule an emergency dental appointment. The longer you wait to book your emergency dental services, the higher the risk of further damage or infection, which can lead to more severe health issues. In this blog, we’ll discuss some common dental emergencies that you should never ignore and that will require you to schedule an emergency dental appointment with your dentist.
1. Perpetual Tooth Pain
Consistently experiencing tooth pain is a clear signal that something is wrong with your dental health. This constant discomfort can be due to a variety of reasons, such as cavities, a tooth abscess, broken teeth, or gum disease.
While it may not seem like it’s a dental emergency right off the bat, it’s crucial to your overall health to address it quickly with an experienced emergency dentist. Ignoring the pain can lead to more severe dental issues that could have been avoided if treated promptly.
Apart from causing discomfort, perpetual tooth pain also indicates an underlying issue that requires attention. In some cases, it may be a sign of a severe infection or damage that needs emergency dental treatment to prevent further complications. It is important not to ignore persisting tooth pain and schedule an appointment with an emergency dentist as soon as you recognize the pain isn’t going away.
Why Pain In Your Tooth is Considered A Dental Emergency
If left untreated, dental pain can cause serious complications, potentially leading to tooth loss, tooth infections spreading to other parts of your body, or more complex dental work in the future. Scheduling emergency dental services can help to diagnose the problem quickly, relieve your pain, and prevent more serious consequences.
2. A Broken Tooth
A broken tooth is another instance in which emergency dentistry is warranted. When you have a damaged or cracked tooth, it leaves the inner pulp and nerve exposed, leading to immense pain and sensitivity. A broken or chipped tooth also creates an open door for bacteria to enter and trigger an infection, which, if not addressed by a dental professional, could lead to an abscess or affect other areas of your overall health.
Why Cracked Teeth Are Always Dental Emergencies
When you have a cracked or damaged tooth not treated with dental emergency services, the risk of losing the tooth increases the longer you wait to seek treatment. More so, a fractured tooth can affect your appearance and ability to chew properly.
Emergency dental treatment can help you find relief from pain, prevent further damage or infection, and provide restoration options such as crowns, bonding, or even implants if required.
Even if the broken teeth do not cause immediate pain, it’s important to consider emergency dental treatments right away. An emergency dentist can assess the extent of the damage and determine the best course of action to repair, replace, or schedule a tooth extraction before any further complications arise.
3. Lost Fillings
A lost dental filling is not only an inconvenience but also a dental emergency that requires immediate care. When a filling falls out, it creates a void in the tooth structure, which becomes an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. Excess bacteria in this spot can lead to tooth decay and potential infection if left untreated.
In addition to the risk of decay and infection, losing a filling can leave the exposed, sensitive part of the tooth that can cause discomfort and heightened sensitivity to temperature or pressure. With the discomfort and the possibility of infection heightened, dental emergency services are essential when you find out you have lost a filling.
Without immediate dental care from an emergency dentist, losing a filling can lead to more complicated dental issues and may even require a root canal treatment. Scheduling an emergency dental appointment at the first sign of your filling being missing can prevent further damage and discomfort, saving you time and money in the long run.
Why You Need Emergency Dentistry When Missing A Filling
Even though it may not cause pain immediately, missing fillings should be treated as a dental emergency. Without the protective layer of the filling, your tooth is open to harmful bacteria, which can rapidly lead to tooth decay or other oral problems. These issues can result in the need for a more complex dental procedure, such as an emergency root canal treatment or even a tooth extraction, if not quickly addressed.
Getting emergency dental care for a missing filling will not only prevent further damage or tooth loss, but it will also immediately alleviate any discomfort or sensitivity you may be experiencing. With an emergency appointment, your dentist can replace the lost filling or suggest alternative treatments to protect your dental health in the long run.
4. A Knocked Out Tooth
A knocked-out tooth, which is clinically referred to as avulsion, is one of the most serious dental emergencies that demands immediate care. If you’ve had an accident that has caused a tooth to be completely dislodged from its socket, it’s vital to schedule emergency dental care as quickly as possible.
Emergency dentists can perform an immediate intervention that can often save the tooth, especially if you can get to the dentist within an hour of the accident. They can potentially re-implant the tooth successfully, preserving your natural smile.
Knocked-Out Teeth Are ALWAYS A Dental Emergency
Additionally, without professional care, a tooth being knocked out can result in severe pain, difficulty in eating, and even speech problems. Missing teeth can also cause other teeth to shift, leading to misalignment and further oral health issues.
In more severe cases, not seeking out emergency dentistry could lead to a larger dental problem, like an infected tooth, that, when not treated with immediate care, can cause issues in other parts of your body that require medical attention.
5. A Dental Abscess
A dental abscess is a severe and potentially life-threatening condition that is considered a dental emergency and requires you to seek medical attention. It is a pus-filled swelling caused by a bacterial infection in the tooth, gums, or surrounding soft tissues.
Abscesses can be incredibly painful, causing throbbing pain in the affected tooth, jaw, and surrounding area. Other symptoms may include fever, sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures, facial swelling, and a foul taste in your mouth.
Abscesses Always Require Emergency Dental Services
If you suspect you have an abscess, it’s crucial to seek emergency dental care immediately. The primary reason is the intense pain that it causes, which can be debilitating and significantly affect your quality of life.
More importantly, if left untreated, the infection can spread to other parts of your body, leading to more serious health issues. An emergency dentist can drain the abscess, treat the infection, and help prevent further complications, ensuring your overall health is maintained.
6. Loss of Dental Bridges, Veneers, or Crowns
Contrary to popular belief, most dental emergencies aren’t limited to your natural teeth. If you’ve lost or damaged a dental bridge, veneer, or crown, it’s equally important to seek the help of an emergency dentist. These restorative dental pieces are not just aesthetic solutions and play a key role in your dental care, and how your teeth, jaw, and digestive system operate.
In the event of a lost dental bridge, veneer, or crown, an emergency appointment at your dental office can assess the damage and provide immediate solutions. This appointment could include temporary fixes to ensure your oral health is not compromised while waiting for a permanent solution.
Missing Dental Prosthetics May Seem Like Cosmetic Dentistry, But Are Considered A Dental Emergency
Dental prosthetics serve a functional role, protecting your teeth from damage and maintaining the structure of your mouth. Losing or damaging them can expose sensitive areas of your teeth, leading to more pain, increased susceptibility to decay, and even affect your ability to eat and speak properly.
Additionally, a displaced crown or bridge can cause the others to shift, potentially leading to the misalignment of your jaw and surrounding teeth. Quickly seeking emergency dental care ensures you can avoid these complications, preserve your oral health, and restore your smile promptly.
When You Need an Emergency Dental Appointment in Kenosha, WI, Turn to Pat Crawford, DDS
If you find yourself in the middle of a dental crisis in Kenosha, WI, and need a reliable, trustworthy emergency dentist to help you through it, the talented dental team at Pat Crawford, DDS, is here to help. We offer superior emergency dental treatment options for our patients and are just a phone call away. Book an appointment with us today, and see how we can help you get your smile back.
