Dental emergencies occur; however, you prepare for them. Usually, medical hospitals cannot treat this type of emergency; however, a local emergency dentist in Littleton has the knowledge and tools to provide you with the relief you need. By recognizing the signs of a dental emergency, you can get the necessary care immediately. If you know your dental issue requires immediate attention, find a provider that can give you the treatment you need. The following are signs that you have a dental emergency:
Loosened or Knocked-Out Teeth
Adult teeth are permanent, so you will want to keep them for as long as you can. However, if you notice a tooth is getting loose, this could mean there is a tooth or gum injury causing it. Sometimes, a loose permanent tooth is a sign of nerve damage that may not always present immediate discomfort or pain.
In addition, you can have a knocked-out tooth because of an accident or a sports injury. This type of dental issue must be treated urgently. A knocked-tooth can result in further damage over time. For instance, the surrounding teeth may start to shift into the open space, leading to teeth and jaw misalignment.
Broke, Cracked, or Chipped Teeth
In some instances, mouth trauma can cause your teeth to chip, break, or crack. Even if it is just a minor crack or chip, it can result in complications such as fever, gum swelling, tooth or gum sensitivity, and pain that tends to radiate down into your neck. Your emergency dentist can address this by bonding the tooth or covering the damaged part of a tooth with a dental crown. In serious cases, your dentist may perform a root canal treatment or extra the affected tooth to prevent root or nerve damage.
Serious Toothache or Gum Pain
Usually, you may seek dental emergency care when you suffer from a serious toothache or pain in your gums. When you deal with pain, you might not be able to pinpoint the exact source or cause of the pain. Thus, you may want to seek emergency care to address the problem. A lot of dental issues can cause a serious toothache including tooth decay and cracked tooth. Also, tooth pain can occur because of a dental abscess, which stems from bacterial growth. This growth usually begins as a cavity and spreads to the soft tissue and the bones in your face and neck. Additionally, gum pain can indicate the development of gum disease.