Types of Dental Emergencies

Most people do not go to the dentist unless they have a dental emergency. Dental emergencies could be anything from pain to a broken tooth. Taking your oral hygiene seriously can minimize the risk of rushing to the dentist in pain or distress. Dental emergencies can creep up on you or be unexpected. However, not all periodontal problems qualify to be called dental emergencies. If you experience any of the following symptoms, then it’s time to visit your dentist.

Severe Pain

Nothing sends you rushing to the dentist like severe pain in the mouth. Painful teeth or gums may stem from a dental abscess, infections, cracked teeth, and other periodontal conditions. A painful tooth may ache if it has a cavity or a crack in it. Ignoring an infected tooth is not recommendable. The infection can spread into the bloodstream and cause serious health issues. If you experience pain in the tooth, gum, jaw, or tongue, visit a dentist immediately.

Blunt Trauma to the Mouth

Taking a hard hit into the mouth can cause serious injuries. If permanent teeth are knocked out of the mouth, that is considered a dental emergency. Broken teeth from blunt trauma can be fixed if you see the dentist immediately. Bruised gums and injury to the mouth and jaw from a blunt trauma requires dental exam and treatment.

Pain in the Jaw

Pain in the jaw may indicate a broken jaw. A broken jaw affects your feeding and speech. This is a dental emergency. Sometimes, pain in the jaw stems from infections and joint problems. If you feel pain while opening or closing your mouth, seek dental intervention immediately. A swollen jaw also indicates inflammation and infection, and it should be checked immediately.

Lost Filling or Veneers

Teeth fillings and veneers are the common way of fixing cavities and teeth loss. Teeth fillings and veneers can fall off due to normal wear and tear. If you feel a metallic taste in your tooth, then you should have your fillings checked. Losing veneers and fillings expose the tooth to sensitivity and bacteria invasion.

Abscessed Tooth or Gum

A dental abscess is a presentation of pus that forms inside a tooth or gum. It is caused by a bacterial infection. If you experience a bump on the gum filled with pus, visit the dentist as soon as possible. An abscess can form cavities that go untreated for a long time. They cause swelling and intense throbbing pain in the tooth. The infection can spread into the bloodstream and cause serious health problems if not treated on time.

Oral Soft Tissue Infections

Dentists do not focus on treating teeth alone. They also treat the soft tissue that makes up the oral palate. Symptoms of oral soft-tissue infections include sores, bad breath, pain, and swollen gums. They are caused by viral infections or an overgrowth of bacteria in the mouth. Swollen neck glands and fever are also indicators of an oral infection. Visit the dentist as soon as possible if you have these symptoms.

To know more about dental emergencies, visit Attuned Dental Care at our offices in Milpitas, California. You can also call (408) 263-3090 to book an appointment today.