We all worry about whether or not our teeth are as healthy as they should be from time to time. And sometimes, our worries escalate when we feel the dull throb of a toothache or another abnormal dental condition.
Luckily, there is a wider availability of emergency dental services today than ever before, meaning you can easily find a dentist who can provide emergency treatment and prevent a real dental disaster from happening.
So how can you know if your dental concern just a concern — or a real emergency that requires emergency dental treatment? Here are four of the most common situations that require the help of an emergency dentist:
Chipped or cracked tooth
Accidents happen, and teeth can become chipped or cracked easier than one might think. Fortunately, if you see an emergency dentist immediately, the chip or crack can be repaired — and your teeth will look exactly as they did before the crack happened.
One or more completely knocked-out teeth
As stated before, accidents happen. If you or someone in your family has had one or more teeth knocked out, it’s imperative to seek emergency dental treatment within two hours of the tooth being knocked out. Within this time frame, a dentist will be able to re-implant your tooth into your gum successfully. Dental professionals advise patients with knocked-out teeth to keep the tooth in a cup of milk or in one’s mouth while heading to the emergency dentist.
A toothache that has lasted for several days
Most toothaches go away within a day or two — so if you have noticed that your tooth has hurt for longer than that, it could be an indicator of a condition like a dental abscess or excessive tooth decay. Either way, chronic toothache is not something you should ignore — be sure to visit a dentist as soon as you can to have your problem tooth looked at.
Dental lacerations and excessive bleeding
A cut inside the mouth that won’t stop bleeding will need to be stitched up by an emergency dentist who can see you right away. Until you’re able to seek a dentist’s help, it’s a good idea to keep dry gauze covering the cut, and to replace it regularly.
Have you ever visited an emergency dental clinic before? Share your experience with us in the comments! For more about this, go here.