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When to Make an Emergency Dental Visit

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when to make an emergency dental visit

When dental emergencies occur, you won’t always be able to anticipate them. Whether it’s a severe toothache, a chipped tooth, a lost filling or facial pain, you’ll need to identify which issues require emergency care and which can wait.  Today, we will highlight some clear-cut dental emergencies and how they can be addressed at your Cranbrook dental clinic.

Knocked-out Teeth

When your permanent tooth separates from its socket, it must be replaced immediately. Do you know that you can actually help save a knocked-out tooth by handing it will care? In fact, preventing a lost tooth from drying out is a priority.

You should avoid touching the root surface of the tooth. Instead, hold it by its crown and gently rinse it under warm water. In addition, you can also rinse your mouth. Try your best not to remove any cells or tissues from the tooth when rinsing.

If it is possible, place the tooth back in its socket or place the tooth into the cheek and hold it between the gum and teeth. Alternatively, you can store the tooth in milk until you are able to visit a dentist near you. The goal here is to maintain the cells’ integrity on the surface of the root so that the tooth can be re-implanted into its socket.

Dental Pain

In many cases, dental emergencies involve the wisdom teeth; however, trauma to the lips or tongue can be another reason for concern. Jaw pain or fractures are also another type of dental emergency. If you are experiencing persistent pain, there should be no reason for you to suffer in silence; visit our dental office in Cranbrook. We will identify the issue and provide prompt treatment for fast relief.

Bleeding and Swelling

Swelling is another indication of a potential dental emergency. Generally, swelling in the mouth accompanied by pain is an abscess, which is a collection of pus that forms on the gums. The sooner an infection is treated, the better.  However, if there is no pain present, it may be related to a variety of different dental issues. Swelling should always be taken seriously, be sure to visit a dental clinic near you to determine the cause.

Bloody gums could be the result of gingivitis. In this case, you should visit your Cranbrook dentist to prevent gingivitis from advancing into periodontal disease. On the other hand, if unexplained bleeding in the mouth occurs, it could signify a serious issue in the liver or can be trauma-related.

Aesthetic Emergency

Let’s face it, cracking your tooth or having a crown fall out is an inconvenience. While this may seem more of an aesthetic issue than an emergency, it is still distressing.  Regardless, be sure to visit a dentist office near you as they will address the problem and restore the appearance of your teeth.

Stubborn Baby Teeth

Child tooth loss is a normal part of growing up and does not imply that there is an emergency. But if the tooth is dangling and refuses to separate from the child’s gums, this may warrant the need to visit a Cranbrook emergency dentist. Clinging baby teeth can be painful for children and some parents would prefer to have a professional remove the tooth instead of doing it themselves.