Dental emergencies happen all the time and quite suddenly. You’ll feel severe pain and discomfort that could lead to some serious consequences if you don’t get emergency dental care. To break it down, a dental emergency requires immediate attention from a dental professional to treat pain, stop bleeding, or save a tooth.

Knowing the signs of this kind of emergency will make a huge difference in preserving your oral health. WU Emergency Dentist Melbourne are highly skilled in dentistry urgent care, and if you’re experiencing a dental emergency right now, make a booking with a dentist right away! If not, make sure you’re prepared for emergency tooth pain by learning more about your potential dental problem below.

Key Takeaways

• A tooth pain emergency is any situation where you’d require immediate dental treatment.
• You’ll need an emergency dentist for a severe toothache, a knocked-out tooth, a chipped or cracked tooth, an abscess, and excessively bleeding gums.
• Uncontrollable bleeding, severe pain, facial swelling, and injury to the teeth or gums are symptoms that you need to seek dental treatment immediately.
• Before you visit an emergency room, stay calm, contact your dentist for guidance to control the bleeding with pressure, use pain medication, and take care of your teeth that may have been knocked out.
• An emergency dental professional can help you manage pain, repair damage, treat infections, and reimplant knocked-out teeth.
• To prevent a dental emergency that needs urgent care, have regular check-ups, wear protective gear like mouthguards, practice good oral hygiene, and avoid hard foods.

Common Dental Emergencies

Dental emergencies include any dental issue where you’d need to see a dentist as soon as possible. This includes a variety of dental pain issues, though some emergencies are more common. Here are a few types of dental emergencies:

Severe Toothache

Severe dental pain can be a sign of tooth decay, infection, or gum disease. For example, dental decay can tell you that there is an underlying issue that requires emergency dental care immediately. If you’re experiencing persistent tooth pain, it’s important to go to a dental clinic immediately.

Knocked-Out Tooth

If you’ve knocked your tooth back, you’ll need to see your dentist within the hour. You might be able to save the tooth by rinsing it gently and placing it back in its socket, or storing it in milk until you can get emergency dental services.

Cracked or Chipped Tooth

A chipped or cracked tooth can expose the inner pulp and nerves, leading to severe pain and infection if left untreated. Immediate dental care is important to prevent further damage.

Abscess

An abscess is considered as a dental emergency. It’s a painful infection at the root of a tooth or between the gum and a tooth. It can lead to serious complications if you don’t get emergency dental treatment quickly, including the spread of infection.

Bleeding Gums

Bleeding gums are also considered an emergency in some cases. For example, if you experience uncontrolled bleeding from the gums after an injury or due to gum disease, you should seek treatment from a dentist immediately.

When do you Need Emergency Treatment?

Honestly, it’s best to play it safe and seek dental care if you’re in a lot of pain. However, if you experience these symptoms in your dental situation, you should really call your dentist as soon as possible:

• Uncontrollable Bleeding: If you experience bleeding that does not stop after applying pressure for 10 minutes, you need to see your dentist for an emergency appointment as soon as possible.
• Severe Pain: If you are suffering from severe dental pain that does not improve with over-the-counter medications, this might mean it’s a more serious issue that needs emergency care.
• Facial Swelling: Swelling in the face or gums can point to an infection or abscess that needs immediate treatment to prevent further complications.
• Injury to Teeth or Gums: Any trauma resulting in knocked-out teeth, fractured teeth, or serious dental damage means you should see your dentist right away.

Steps to Take During a Dental Emergency

If you’re stuck without emergency dental treatment for a bit, there are a few steps you can take to protect your teeth in the event of a dental emergency:

• Stay Calm: Firstly, you need to relax! Panicking can really make the situation worse, especially if you’re clenching your jaw. Take a couple of deep breaths and assess your condition.
• Contact Your Dentist: Make an appointment with your dentist or head to the hospital emergency department as soon as possible. A dentist will tell you what to do next. Many dentists have emergency numbers for after-hours situations.
• Control Bleeding: If you’re experiencing bleeding, apply gentle pressure with clean gauze or a cloth until the bleeding stops.
• Manage Pain: Use over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen to reduce discomfort while waiting for emergency dental care services.
• Preserve Knocked-Out Teeth: If you have a knocked-out tooth (even a wisdom tooth!), handle it by the dental crown (not the root), rinse it gently if dirty, and place the tooth back in the socket if possible. If not, keep it moist in milk or saline until you see an emergency dentist. Do the same for a dental implant.

What does an Emergency Dentist Do?

If you go to an emergency dental clinic, you’ll receive the care you need for your issue. These dentists are highly skilled in providing urgent care. Here are the most common services a dentist can provide in the case of an emergency:

• Pain Management: A good dental professional will look for the cause of your pain and give you the right treatment, such as medication or procedures like root canals.
• Repairing Damage: If you’re using an emergency dental professional, they can repair broken, chipped, or cracked teeth using a few different methods including fillings, crowns, or bonding.
• Treating Infections: They manage infections through drainage of abscesses and prescribing antibiotics as necessary.
• Reimplanting Knocked-Out Teeth: These dentists are trained to reinsert knocked-out teeth effectively when patients seek treatment.

How to Prevent Dental Emergencies

A dental emergency is a situation everyone wants to avoid, so you might be wondering how to avoid it. It all comes down to proactive oral health care. Here’s how to prevent a surprise trip to the nearest emergency room:

• Regular Dental Check-Ups: Schedule regular visits with your dentist for cleanings and examinations to catch potential issues early before they turn into emergencies like infections or tooth loss.
• Wear Protective Gear: If you play contact sports, use mouthguards to protect your teeth from injury.
• Practice Good Oral Hygiene: Brush twice daily and floss regularly. You can use dental floss to remove or lower the risk of cavities and gum disease, which can lead to emergencies.
• Avoid Hard Foods: Be careful about eating hard candies or ice that, as these can crack your teeth. Try softer alternatives instead.

WU Emergency Dentist Melbourne: Affordable Urgent Dental Care

If you find yourself in situations considered to be dental emergencies, reach out to WU Emergency Dentist Melbourne. We offer affordable urgent dental care to help you manage pain and make repairs.

Our experienced team is dedicated to providing immediate relief and effective treatment for all types of dental emergencies. Don’t wait, get your smile back as soon as possible!

FAQs on What’s considered a Dental Emergency?

At what point does a toothache become an emergency?

A toothache becomes an emergency when it is severe, persistent, or comes with swelling or fever. Immediate dental care is necessary if the pain causes problems with your daily activities or sleep.

What is the most common dental emergency?

The most common dental emergency is a knocked-out tooth. Other common issues include severe toothaches and broken teeth.

Is losing a filling considered a dental emergency?

Losing a filling is generally not considered a dental emergency, but it should be addressed as soon as possible to prevent further decay or discomfort. If it comes with pain, you might need urgent attention.

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