What Is Considered a Dental Emergency?
Dental emergencies can be inconvenient and require immediate attention. However, it is crucial to identify whether it is an emergency. Our dental clinic in Langley suggests asking yourself the following questions to see if you need immediate care.
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Are you experiencing any swelling in the face or jaw?
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Does the pain reduce with over-the-counter medication?
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Are you bleeding excessively?
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Do you have a displaced tooth?
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Is your tooth numb?
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Is there significant soft tissue damage?
Common Dental Emergencies in Langley
There are several common dental emergencies and ways to manage them until you seek emergency dental care.
Severe Toothache
Sudden and excruciating pain causes severe toothache. If swelling and fever accompany this, it can indicate an infection. You must receive treatment immediately. You can take over-the-counter medication to reduce the pain and place a cold compress against your face and tooth. Avoid placing the pills on the gums or sore teeth.
Knocked-Out Tooth
A knocked-out tooth because of a fall or accident requires immediate dental care. Rinse the tooth without removing tissue fragments, as our Langley dental office can restore it. Ensure you put it back into its socket or store it in cold milk.
Visit an emergency dentist immediately. .
Chipped or Broken Tooth: Urgent Dental Care
A chipped or broken tooth causes sharp pain or bleeding and requires immediate dental care. You must rinse with warm water and use a cold compress outside to reduce swelling. Call our emergency dentist for the proper treatment immediately.
Lost Dental Filling or Crown: Timely Restoration
Although it causes no pain, it exposes the tooth and nerves, and dentists consider it a dental emergency. The exposure can lead to serious dental issues such as tooth decay and sensitivity.
Dental Abscess
An abscess can cause infection and damage the tissues surrounding your teeth. Dentists consider it a serious dental emergency. They are swollen or pimple-like infections that can spread to the rest of the body if not treated immediately. Rinse with salt water to relieve pain and pus until you see our emergency dentist in Langley.
Soft Tissue Injuries: Managing Bleeding
Soft tissues include tongue, cheeks, gums and lips. Injuries to them can cause significant bleeding and require immediate care. Apply gentle pressure with clean gauze on the bleeding and place a cold compress to relieve dental pain. If the bleeding continues, seek emergency dental treatment.
When to Seek Emergency Dental Care
To reiterate, you must seek emergency dental care immediately if you notice signs of infection, uncontrolled bleeding, excruciating pain and traumatic injuries. These signs indicate various dental emergencies that require immediate care.
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Intense Pain or Swelling: Unbearable pain or swelling might indicate an infection or serious underlying issues requiring immediate treatment.
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Traumatic Injuries: Accidents causing severe oral tissue damage requiring immediate dental emergency care.
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Signs of Infection: This includes fever, swelling, and pus discharge.
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Uncontrolled Bleeding: Severe oral bleeding because of trauma requires immediate dental care.
What Is Not Considered a Dental Emergency?
Not every dental issue demands immediate emergency dental care. Minor toothaches, lost fillings or crowns without pain, or dental issues not affecting daily function might not be immediate care. However, visiting your dentist to prevent oral health issues is essential.
Understanding the various dental emergencies allows patients to seek appropriate treatment when experiencing sudden oral health issues. Prompt attention can prevent pain escalation, infections, and irreversible damage. It is recommended to consult your dentist or a healthcare professional in uncertain situations. Visit our dental clinic in Langley to maintain good oral health.
Your Oral Health Matters
Maintaining oral hygiene and regular dental check-ups prevent many emergencies. However, knowing how to identify a dental emergency and respond appropriately is crucial.
Furthermore, dentists recommend taking preventive measures to avoid dental injuries. Use a mouth guard to keep your teeth safe when playing contact sports. Do not chew on hard objects, and use your teeth to open bottles or packages. Always have an emergency dental kit to take precautionary measures while awaiting immediate dental treatment.
Recognizing a dental emergency and taking prompt action can prevent complications and damage. Our Langley dental clinic is equipped to handle various dental emergencies in Langley, ensuring prompt and effective care when needed.