Cedar Park, TX Emergency Dental Care
When faced with a medical emergency, most people know exactly what to do - call their regular doctor if they have one, or go to the emergency room for treatment, depending on the severity of the problem. And while many people have a dentist they trust and have visited for years, the nature of dental work makes it so that appointments are typically planned, sometimes weeks or even months in advance.
However when faced with a dental emergency, many people find themselves at a loss of where to go and what to do. Just like a medical emergency, it is important to treat dental trauma and other problems in a timely manner in order to avoid complications and risk permanent damage. Knowing what to do during a dental emergency can mean the difference between saving or losing your tooth altogether. In addition to staying calm and acting fast, a dental emergency almost always requires some help from your emergency dentist. Find out more about emergency dental care and how it works with your Cedar Park, TX dentists at Bell Blvd Dental.
What Is Considered A Dental Emergency?
Dental emergencies are situations which require immediate dental treatment. A dental emergency most often occurs due to infection, trauma to the tooth, or injury. Although dental accidents are not generally life threatening, getting immediate care from a dentist is necessary in order to help preserve the tooth and the smile's overall appearance. Even small breaks can cause nerve injuries through bacteria build up in the soft pulp inside the tooth, potentially resulting in permanent damage if left untreated. A tooth fracture that might seem to be little more than a cosmetic problem can sometimes actually need a root canal to prevent infection and nerve damage.
If you are not sure if your situation is a dental emergency, consider these questions:
- Are you bleeding from the mouth?
- Is your face or facial area swollen?
- Are you in severe pain?
- Are you missing any teeth?
- Do you have any loose teeth?
- Do you have a swollen, painful lump on your gum tissue?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should see your emergency dentist as soon as possible.
Other types of dental emergencies include:
- Inflammation
- Bacterial infection
- Abscess
- Loose tooth
- Knocked out tooth
- Cuts and lacerations to the gums, tongue, lips, and cheeks
How Should I Handle A Dental Emergency?
Your first reaction to any dental emergency may be to panic. However, it is important to remain calm and think quickly during an emergency. If you are in severe pain, take a moment to assess the situation. If your tooth is missing or broken, save the remaining pieces of tooth and place them into a small container of milk. Take these with you to your dental appointment.
If your pain comes from a lump or pimple-like swelling on your gum, swish your mouth with warm salty water and see your dentist as soon as possible. This infection, called a dental abscess, could become very serious or even life-threatening if left untreated.
A chipped tooth is normally not considered an emergency though if the chip or crack runs up the tooth underneath the gum line, you should seek emergency dental care right away.