Dental Emergencies That Can’t Wait
It can be tempting to ignore tooth pain or bleeding gums when you have a lot going on. But it’s important not to wait too long before getting help. While some dental conditions can wait, many require urgent treatment. Learn more about the different types of dental emergencies and how to determine if you need to contact your dentist to schedule an emergency appointment.
What is a Dental Emergency?
Dental emergencies include any injury to your mouth, tooth, gums or the surrounding tissue that causes severe pain, bleeding you can’t control, or a broken facial bone. And most fall into one of these three categories: complications following a procedure, infection or trauma.
Some dental emergencies don’t cause pain right away but can evolve into a more serious condition. On the other hand, mouth pain or sores could be the first sign of something more serious. Either way, it takes an emergency dentist to get to the root, so to speak, of the problem.
While the emergency room is the perfect place for many other types of urgent issues, hospitals may not be equipped to perform emergency dental procedures. So, it’s best to find specialized emergency dental services for mouth-related pain and injuries near you.
How to Handle Dental Emergencies
If you decide your situation is an emergency, it’s important to know what to do next.
A Knocked-Out Tooth
If your tooth gets knocked-out, quick action could allow us to save your original tooth. Hold your tooth by the top and put it back in place as quickly as possible since your mouth is actually the best place to store it. If that isn’t an option, carefully place it in a clean jar. Avoid wrapping it or putting it in a bag that could damage the roots and reduce the chances of saving the tooth.
A Broken Tooth
Your tooth enamel is the strongest material in your body. Your teeth can handle a lot of pressure and a lot of use, but they aren’t indestructible. Chips, cracks, and breaks can develop slowly over time or happen more suddenly. If you fall or have another injury that causes a broken tooth with severe pain, don’t delay seeking care for it.
A Toothache
A painful tooth can be caused by a wide variety of issues, some serious and some not. If over-the-counter pain medication doesn’t offer relief — or if your pain is severe or lasting — it’s time to have it looked at in a dentist office.
Soft-Tissue Damage
Your mouth is made up of different soft tissues, including your lips, gums, tongue, and the inside of your cheeks. If you have uncontrolled bleeding or a serious injury to any of these soft tissues, it’s important to reach out to a dentist who can help you determine if you need emergency dental services or can wait a few days for an appointment. A dentist can also advise you on the best ways to stop bleeding or deal with the issue in the meantime.
Emergency Dental Care in Tulsa
If you need an urgent care dentist in Tulsa, look no further. Southern Pointe Dental and Implants is a same day dentist office. Our experts are highly trained in urgent dental care, and we block time in our daily schedules for emergency patients.
