7 Reasons Why You May Need an Emergency Dentist Appointment
If you’re feeling low level, almost nagging pain in your teeth, gums, or jaw, you may feel like you can wait a few days to see your dentist at a regular appointment. But there are some situations that are so serious or cause so much pain that your only option is to make an emergency dentist appointment and be seen as soon as possible.
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You don’t need to be “tough” or wait out unexplained pain or swelling. Waiting too long can lead to more serious issues down the road. Not sure what’s cause for immediate worry and what can wait a few days? Here are a few reasons to make an emergency dental appointment as soon as possible.
Broken or Knocked Out Tooth
A severely broken tooth may be causing so much pain you can barely function. A knocked-out permanent tooth will bleed everywhere. Without immediate treatment for either situation, you’ll likely be miserable and may even permanently lose that tooth. Even worse, if you delay in getting help, the fix could be much more invasive and expensive.
Missing Filling or Crown
Sometimes you know immediately when a crown or filling comes loose. And sometimes all you have is a strange taste of pennies in your mouth. Don’t ignore that feeling or taste and get to an emergency dentist as soon as you can. If you wait too long, you could need a much more invasive (and often dreaded) procedure like a root canal.
Unexplained Tooth Pain
Maybe you bit down wrong or maybe you don’t know what happened, but your mouth aches. Your teeth feel like they’re on fire. Even the air hurts. While unexpected and unexplained tooth pain may come from a variety of reasons, don’t allow yourself to live in misery for a few days until you can get an appointment during normal office hours. Make an emergency dental appointment instead.
Bleeding Gums
It’s not completely unusual for your gums to bleed a little when you have known issues like gum disease or a plaque build-up. Hopefully, you’re working with your dentist to strengthen your gums and deal with underlying dental and health concerns. However, if your gums start bleeding and won’t stop or occur with pain or swelling, don’t wait to see a dentist. Get in as soon as you can.
Abscessed Tooth
You might not realize you have an abscessed tooth but you’ll know you’re in an extreme amount of pain. You can’t talk, breathe, drink, or eat because the idea of anything touching your teeth is unbearable. Don’t suffer until a Monday or Tuesday. Make an emergency dentist appointment and have the tooth treated and your pain reduced.
Exposed Nerves
Like an abscessed tooth, the pain from an exposed nerve can be excruciating. Going about your normal evening or weekend is practically impossible. With both an exposed nerve or an abscessed tooth, be very concerned if the pain stops abruptly. This doesn’t mean the Tooth Fairy is real and you’ve been cured. It may mean the nerve is so damaged, you can no longer feel anything. That’s a problem.
Swollen Jaw or Mouth
No, it’s not normal or typical for your jaw or mouth to swell up for no obvious reason. Swelling can, however, be caused by a variety of reasons from swollen lymph nodes up to an infection in your mouth or jaw. In really rare cases, it can be caused by cancer. Because there’s not always a good way to know, it’s best to come in for an emergency dental appointment. You may be in so much pain, that convinces you to see the dentist more than the swelling. No matter which part concerns you most, just don’t wait.
Conclusion
Emergency dental appointments might not have been an option decades ago. Back in the day, you suffered through your pain or pulled a tooth out by yourself. This is the 21st century and no one should have to experience that kind of dental emergency. Instead, take advantage of emergency dental care offered by your dentist. If they don’t make it available, search for a dentist office that can help you in any dental emergency.
