A white tooth floating next to a red and white first aid kit to represent a dental emergency

Types of Dental Emergencies

August 29, 2022 4:06 pm

It’s not always easy to tell when a situation requires immediate expert emergency dental care and when the situation can wait a few days. We have outlined a few of the most common dental emergencies below to help clarify what constitutes a true dental emergency. But if you are still unsure about your situation and have a question for our team, please give us a call. We will be glad to help you!

Tooth or Gum Pain

If you have been experiencing some mild oral pain or discomfort, improve your brushing and flossing habits, drink plenty of water, and avoid acidic foods for a few days. Contact us if the pain worsens or doesn’t get any better. We will assess the situation and provide you with a diagnosis and custom treatment plan.

However, if you are experiencing severe pain that keeps you from being able to concentrate on anything else, your situation has already reached emergency status! This is particularly true if you have associated swelling and cannot eat. Get in touch with our office to schedule an emergency appointment. If you experience unbearable tooth pain that stops suddenly, you still need to come see us for an emergency appointment.

Damaged or Dislodged Tooth

Cracked or broken teeth are considered dental emergencies because there is typically a lot of pain that comes with damaged teeth. We need to treat the situation before harmful bacteria can get inside one or more of your teeth and cause infections or other issues.

A slight chip in a tooth may not necessarily be a dental emergency, but you are welcome to call our office and describe the situation if you aren’t sure.

A knocked-out permanent tooth requires emergency care as soon as possible for the best chances of saving the tooth. Teeth that are completely dislodged should be carefully handled by the crown (chewing surface) and placed in a cup of milk or saliva while the patient safely makes their way to our office.

Lost or Damaged Dental Restoration

A crown or a bridge that has started to feel loose or damaged in any way requires a prompt dental visit. A missing or inadequate restoration leaves the underlying tooth structure unsupported and unprotected. This can result in infections, tooth decay, and additional restorative dental treatments becoming necessary. If you believe something is wrong with your filling, dental crown, or dental bridge, please get in touch with our office very soon.

Call Us for Emergency Dental Care!

Do you have another emergency-related question or concern for our team? Call High Point Dentistry in Round Rock, TX, at 512-262-9233 so our knowledgeable team can assist.

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