When to see an emergency dentist?
Dental emergencies vary and it is normally when you are in pain that you will visit a dental practice for an emergency. Heard of the saying if its not broke, don’t fix it? Not always the case! Prevention is better than cure! There are ways to try and avoid a dental emergency – visiting the dentist regularly for check-ups and having regular appointments with the hygienist. However, dental pain unfortunately isn’t always avoidable and there are lots of different types of dental pain that can come on suddenly and be very painful and uncomfortable when it happens. It can cause disturbed sleep, unable to eat and make you feel unwell. We have listed a few types of dental emergencies:
Dental Abscess’
Dental abscess’ are caused by bacterial infection. They are a collection of puss that can be visible and present on the gum or at the top of the tooth. Dental abscess’ can cause your face to swell and can be very painful, however sometimes you will experience no pain. It is important to see a dentist as soon as possible if you think you have an abscess as if left untreated it can spread causing difficulty in breathing, radiating of the swelling up to the eye and leave you feeling unwell and run down.
Toothache
It is always advised to see a dentist if you have toothache. The longer you leave it, the worse it becomes. Sometimes toothaches can reduce but will most likely always be back!
Trauma
Trauma’s to the mouth are common and accidents can happen causing trauma. Knocks to the mouth and falls been the most common. If a patient has lost consciousness or injured part of the face then it is advised to visit A&E however its always recommended to see a dentist as soon as possible to assess the damage if any caused.
Lost fillings/crowns and broken teeth
We recommend you see a dentist as soon as a filling or crown has come away or a tooth is broken. You may not initially be in pain. However, when a filling is lost or a tooth is broken, there is room for bacteria and food to get trapped in the area which if left can cause decay and infections that can lead to pain and discomfort. When a crown has come away, the tooth can become sensitive and some of the gum in the area can grow into the tooth making it more difficult to put the crown back in place. The tooth under the crown is also fragile therefore further breakdown of the tooth can occur.
You can read more on our website but overall, if you are unsure or in pain it is always best to ask a dentist’s advice and get the right treatment.
At Ascent Dental Care Tamworth we will see emergency patients on the same day to ensure that you are not left in pain or to prevent your problem worsening.
