When Your Dental Problem Becomes An Emergency

If you suffer with a toothache on a weekend, you may be wondering if it is safe to wait for an appointment with your dentist or if you have an emergency on your hands. Getting emergency dental care isn't always easy if your dentist doesn't see patients after hours, or if you are away on vacation. The first step is to call your dentist and ask for guidance. If you can't contact your dentist, you can go to a 24 hour emergency dental clinic if there is one in your area. If you live in a small town, you may have to go to the emergency room of your hospital instead. Here are some indications you need to see a dentist as soon as possible.

Severe Pain

A toothache can cause incredible pain. If you have a low pain tolerance, or debilitating medical condition, then the pain could even be dangerous for you to try to endure. You can try over-the-counter pain relievers and home remedies such as clove oil for relief. If these don't help, you need to get medical help. If you can't get to a dentist, then go to a medical clinic or emergency room where you can get some relief from pain until your tooth can be treated.

Infection

A tooth abscess is a potentially serious infection that should be treated right away. You'll be uncomfortable with pain, and the infection may continue to spread throughout your body until it is treated. Give your dentist a call at the first sign of a dental infection. This includes a painful gum, gum swelling, tooth pain when biting down, and the presence of pus. An initial treatment for a tooth abscess is usually antibiotics, and these can be prescribed by a doctor if you can't get to a dentist right away for a prescription.

Loose Tooth

If you knock out a tooth, you may or may not have much pain. There could also be quite a bit of bleeding. Whether you have symptoms associated with your lost tooth or not, you need to see an emergency dentist as soon as you can. If you can get to the dentist right away, the tooth can possibly be saved. If your regular dentist is not available, you should go to an emergency dental clinic rather than wait for regular office hours. By then, it will be too late to save your dislodged tooth. If you want to save the tooth, keep it in your mouth so it stays moist during your ride to the dental office.

Loose crowns, sprung wires on braces, mild toothaches, and chipped teeth are not usually emergencies, but you should call your dentist as soon as possible to have the problem fixed. You can buy dental adhesives or orthodontic wax to make temporary fixes for mild problems. This prevents pain and irritation until you can see your dentist during regular business hours. Talk to people like Dr. Jeffery Spilman DDS for more information.