Common Dental Emergencies and When to See Your Dentist

common-dental-emergencies

Let’s chat about common dental emergencies. While a simple toothache may seem benign, the truth is that a toothache isn’t something you want to take lightly. It’s your mouth’s way of telling you to that something isn’t right and to take a closer look. While a minor toothache may not be considered a dental emergency, a sudden and unexplainable one needs to be treated very quickly.

With National Toothache Day approaching quickly on Feb. 9, 2022, we thought we’d chat about toothaches and all things dental emergency. It’s a great day to remember that your oral health is so important for a happy, healthy life!

Learn more about National Toothache Day and why the Number 1 Reason People Visit the Dentist is Tooth Pain.

What’s Considered a Dental Emergency?

The nine most common dental emergencies we see are:

Swollen Jaw/Mouth – If your mouth or jaw swells for no apparent reason, visit us immediately. It could be irritation, infection, lymph nodes, or something else.
Unexplainable Toothache – If you have a sudden, out-of-the-blue toothache, it’s important to reach out quickly to discover the source of the pain. While over-the-counter pain meds and a cold compress can help temporarily, it’s good to get to the source of the pain sooner rather than later; your odds of a minor fix will be much greater the faster you see your dentist.
Bleeding or Swollen Gums – Some minor bleeding or irritation here and there is usually just fine and not concerning. However, if your gums won’t stop bleeding and is accompanied with swelling, it can often mean there’s an underlying health or dental issue that needs to be addressed.
Knocked-out Tooth/Teeth – If you’ve ever had a tooth knocked out, you know what a shock that can be. When you act quickly after a tooth has been knocked out, it’s possible that we may be able to reinsert your tooth. Pick up the tooth carefully, try not to touch the root, and gently rinse. Try to reinsert the tooth into the socket, but if you can’t, place in a small container of milk until you see your dentist.
Exposed Nerves – Exposed nerves can be very painful, so see your dentist ASAP to avoid prolonging any intense pain.
Missing Filling – Having a filling that is missing can make the changes of a chipped or cracked tooth much greater because the tooth isn’t being properly supported.
Broken Crown – If a dental crown falls off or completely breaks, it leaves your tooth very vulnerable. Schedule with us quickly to possibly avoid a root canal or extraction.
Food or Object Lodged in Teeth – If an object piece or stubborn piece of food gets lodged, brushing and flossing won’t help. Get professional help quickly to remove the food/object and prevent any decay or irritation.
Abscessed Tooth – A dental abscess is very serious and can even be life threatening, so it’s something to take incredibly seriously. An abscess is a pocket of puss that has led to an infection. It can cause hot/cold sensitivity, a fever, a prolonged toothache, swollen lymph nodes, a pimple-like bump on your gums, and swelling in the face.

Making a Difference One Toothache at a Time

Regular dental exams and cleaning is wonderful preventative care to keep you from experiencing dental pain and toothaches. We all know that dental pain is no small thing. In fact, tooth pain can ruin your day or put you in a bad mood. Sharp pain can make it difficult to concentrate at school or work, and extreme sensitivity can ruin mealtimes.

If you’re concerned about a dental emergency or have any questions about when it’s necessary to visit us for emergency dental care or to get you out of pain, please give us a call today at 913-296-8030.

Local dentist, Travis A. Roberts and his experienced, friendly team at Adams Dental Group offer affordable family dentistry and gentle dental care in the Kansas City, KS area. We have two locations that are conveniently located and offer appointment times Monday through Friday to meet your needs. At Adams Dental Group, we provide most dental services, from family and general dentistry to specialty procedures, including dental implants, dentures, endodontic or root canal treatment, teeth whitening, cosmetic dentistry and much more. We accept most dental insurance plans and offer affordable financial solutions for any budget. Call us at our West location (913) 296-8030 or our East location (913) 621-3113 to schedule an appointment.

Dr. Travis A. Roberts, DDS January 25th, 2022

Posted In: Emergency Dental Care

Tags: broken tooth, toothache