Why Are Emergency Dental Visits Important? Learn How an Emergency Dentist Can Help

Dental emergencies come on unexpectedly and without warning, and the extreme pain involved with some emergencies can be excruciating or even scary. The priority with a dental emergency is usually pain relief, but some dental emergencies require immediate care because they can be life-threatening, or you could lose a tooth. 

1. Not Every Sudden Dental Problem Is an Emergency

There are dental issues that are troublesome but not necessarily emergencies. For example, chipped teeth, broken crowns, or cracked teeth need attention as soon as you can get to a dentist, but these issues aren’t emergencies. A dental emergency can be any of these:

• Loose teeth
• Severe mouth or jaw pain
• Intense bleeding from the teeth or gums
• Sudden extreme sensitivity to hot or cold foods and beverages
• Painful swelling or inflammation
• A toothache that causes swelling in the face or jaw
• Jaw injuries
• A serious infection in a tooth, also known as an abscess

Dental emergencies aren’t always painful. For example, a loose tooth may not cause you any pain, but if you’re at risk of losing a tooth, it’s important to seek dental care right away. 

2. Causes of Sudden Tooth Loss or Damage

Any number of events can cause you to lose or damage a tooth. A sports injury, for example, or running into hard objects can damage teeth. Eating sticky or hard food can also damage teeth, as can being hit by objects. 

3. An Abscessed Tooth Can Be Life-Threatening

An abscessed tooth is characterized by excruciating pain and possibly swelling. You’ll likely quickly know your tooth is abscessed because the pain can’t be relieved by over-the-counter pain relievers. An abscessed tooth is a serious emergency and requires immediate care because it can spread to the rest of your body if the abscess bursts. If you have any of these symptoms, seek dental care immediately. 

• Difficulty swallowing
• Fever higher than 103 degrees
• Difficulty breathing
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Confusion

4. What You Should Do in a Dental Emergency

It’s important to have a clear plan in place in the event of a dental emergency. Every year, more than two million people visit a hospital emergency room when they have severe dental pain. If you think you have an infection or abscessed tooth, seek care immediately.

There are other steps you can follow for other dental emergencies. For mild dental pain, pain medications such as ibuprofen or Tylenol can give you some relief. Swishing your mouth with warm salt water can also help. A numbing agent such as Oragel can also relieve mild tooth pain.

Why are emergency dental visits important in Streamwood, IL?

It’s difficult to predict when a dental emergency can occur. If you’re searching for an emergency dentist in your area, you’ll be relieved to know that Dr. Joon Han and the team at Irvington Dental in Streamwood, Illinois, are here to help. Call today at (331) 245-2969 to learn more about what you need to do when you need emergency dental care.

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