Emergency dentistry is a part of dentistry that caters for all dental emergencies. The emergencies are defined so when they are urgent, cause severe pain, or cause the loss of natural teeth structure. Depending on the age of the patient, different things can be considered a dental emergency. A dentist in Friendswood is best placed at telling apart the different oral situations and whether or not they require the attention of an emergency dentist.
What Is Considered A Dental Emergency?
Before you go all crazy calling different dentists in Friendswood TX about your teeth, it is important to understand which situations cut it as emergencies. Technically, an emergency should be a situation that requires immediate medical attention to prevent it from being far much worse than it is. It is an unexpected occurrence, and in this case, one that affects the mouth. Some dental emergencies include:
1. Bleeding
When your mouth is bleeding, it is not unusual. However, the mouth is known to handle and control its bleeding very well. Therefore, if you are bleeding more than you should be, it should be considered a dental emergency. Consider how long you have been bleeding, along with the immediate cause of the bleeding. For example, heavy bleeding after an injury should not be taken lightly.
2. Pain in the throat
Most patients who have pain in the throat can wait it out until the pain passes. For the most part, a sore throat can be treated with over-the-counter drugs. It should not last too long. However, in some cases, the soreness in the throat can cause so much more damage. An excellent example is when one has tonsillitis. Other affiliate conditions like fever, headaches, body aches, weakness, dizziness, among others, can result from the condition. Ideally, you should weigh out the extremes of the pain to consider it an emergency. Otherwise, whether or not you go to your dentist immediately, pain in the throat can best be addressed by a medical practitioner.
3. Missing tooth
Say you are involved in an injury that knocked out one of your teeth. Living with a missing tooth might not bother you much, but containing the situation when it happens should. Once you lose a permanent tooth, it can either be replaced or lost it forever. It depends on how quick you are to find the tooth and get to your dentist. A knocked-out tooth can be put back to its position without causing infection. Besides, you will need your doctor to check the other surrounding bones and tissues to contain the damage.
4. Loose teeth
When a tooth is shaken from its foundation, its stability is compromised. If one or more of your teeth are dislodged or loosened from the jaw, it is a dental emergency that requires immediate attention.
5. Severe toothaches
This is perhaps the most common dental emergency. A toothache can be so severe as to cause pain in other parts of the body, including neck, head, and shoulders, among others. Toothaches majorly result from decaying, which can cause an infection in the pulp chamber and cause uneasiness to the patient. Talk to your dentist soon if the pain in your tooth suddenly escalates or other symptoms like swelling and bleeding occur.
6. A possible infection
The infection of the soft tissues in the mouth can spiral into something severe very quickly. For example, a mouth sore can happen to be oral cancer, while loose teeth translate to advanced periodontal disease. In such cases, calling your dentist about your concern can be the perfect way to find out whether or not you need dental emergency care.
When Should You Wait It Out?
It is not every time that you should call an emergency dentist to your rescue. Sometimes waiting it out can be all the treatment you needed. Some patients worry too much about dental conditions that are not as serious as they presume them. Technically, you will know what to do if you answer some of the following questions:
- Can the issue wait until the next morning for office hours?
- Is the pain containable?
- Are there other underlying symptoms accompanying the issues?