Medical emergencies happen all the time, and when they do, people typically know that they need to seek emergency care. Dental problems, however, aren't always cut and dry, which can make it difficult to know when an emergency trip to a dentist is in order.
At Northwoods Dental Group in Columbus, Ohio, general and cosmetic dentist Nathan Klabunde, DDS, wants everyone to have a beautiful, healthy smile. Regardless of whether you need veneers to enhance the look of your teeth, Invisalign to straighten your teeth, or a simple cleaning, we can help. And as part of our commitment to serving the community, we offer same-day emergency dental care.
In this blog, Dr. Klabunde explains some of the situations that can constitute a dental emergency.
Any major injury to your gums requires immediate attention from a dental professional. Deep cuts and gouges to the gums can affect your surrounding teeth. Soft tissue injuries in the mouth may not bleed severely, but this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get emergency dental attention. If you sustain a serious injury to your gums, see a dental professional immediately.
An abscess is an oral infection. With an abscess, pus forms in or around the gums, teeth, or jawbone. Dental abscesses are typically painful. You may experience sudden, throbbing pain that spreads to your jaw on the affected side. Your face may also have some redness or swelling.
A dental abscess constitutes a dental emergency. If you delay treatment, the infection may spread and cause even more serious problems.
Accidents happen. Whether you have an accident involving your face or your tooth gets knocked out participating in a contact sport, a dislodged tooth requires an immediate visit to a dentist. As each minute passes, the likelihood of saving the tooth diminishes.
If your tooth is knocked out of its socket, retrieve the tooth, but make sure to hold it by the crown, which is the visible portion of the tooth. Then gently rinse it in warm water. Then, if you can, put it back in its socket and put light pressure on it. If you can’t do this, put it between your cheek and gums or put it in a container of milk. Then get to the dentist right away.
If your mouth or gums are causing you a lot of pain, it’s best that you don’t wait to see a dentist. Extreme pain can be a sign of a serious problem. It may signal damage to your gums, teeth, or bones that support your teeth. It could also mean that you have a serious infection. Rely on your dentist to get to the root of the problem.
If you’re an adult, your teeth should never feel loose. Even if you aren’t having any pain, having one or more loose teeth is a serious problem. If this happens to you, get to a dental professional right away to have your teeth checked out.
If you have a dental emergency, call 614-347-3291, and we can get you the help you need. For all other dental care, book an appointment online or over the phone with Northwoods Dental Group today.
