Not everyone likes a visit to the dentist, but sometimes, these visits are unavoidable as part of your annual check-up. However, there are also dental emergencies that crop up from time to time. Accidents happen, and we need to be prepared to take the appropriate steps and contact an emergency dentist in Camden as soon as possible.
But when is the right time to seek emergency care from a dentist in Camden? Are you putting off a visit for an emergency because it “doesn’t hurt that much”? Have you got a toothache that just won’t go away? Are you noticing excessive bleeding or sensitivity when brushing your teeth?
You need to treat your oral health just as importantly as the health of other parts of your body. Here are some tips on identifying a dental emergency and taking the next steps to get the help you need.
Common Dental Emergencies
Dental emergencies do happen. Sometimes they occur due to inadequate dental care over time, which suddenly springs an emergency on you. Other times, they result from a fall, car crash, fight, or other unfortunate life event. In any case, a trip to the emergency dentist in Camden becomes necessary.
Here are a few common dental emergencies that you may encounter.
- Chipped or broken tooth/teeth.
- Badly bitten lip or tongue.
- Badly trapped debris between your teeth, causing discomfort and inflammation.
- Swollen gums.
- General pain and discomfort in a specific area of your mouth.
- Lost fillings.
- Broken partial dentures.
Severe Pain and Discomfort
One of the most common forms of dental emergencies may appear non-emergent! This is the feeling of severe pain or discomfort in a specific area. A dull ache that grows over a few days to an inferno of pain in the mouth. This is generally present at night and can indicate a serious problem.
Some underlying issues of severe dental pain include abscesses, broken or cracked teeth, damaged partial dentures, or other restoration like a crown. This can also be a sign of a deep cavity or an infection.
If you’re in near-constant dental pain, immediately book an appointment with your local emergency dentist in Camden.
Trauma and Injury
Another common cause of dental emergencies is traumas or injuries to your mouth. These can arise from accidents like falls, car crashes, or even indirect hits that produce head trauma. Injuries to your mouth can lead to fractures in your jaw (which directly affects your gums and teeth) or cause teeth to become dislodged from the gums.
Furthermore, preexisting dental work, like removable partial dentures, can be damaged more easily than your original teeth. If you wear removable partial dentures and have been involved in oral trauma, visit your local emergency denture clinic ASAP to get an exam and repairs made if necessary.
Untreated dental trauma can lead to infection, which could become life-threatening.
Uncontrolled Bleeding
Sometimes, our gums bleed when we brush our teeth too hard. This is not always a cause for concern. However, uncontrolled bleeding from the mouth (meaning it cannot be stopped within a few minutes of applied pressure) could indicate a serious dental health problem.
Most often, uncontrolled gum bleeding is a sign of gingivitis, an early stage of gum disease. Be sure to visit an emergency dentist in Camden as soon as possible, as your bleeding gums may also indicate a health problem that’s not necessarily as superficial, such as blood disorders, diabetes, or vitamin deficiencies.
Swelling and Infection
Another common indicator of a dental emergency is swelling of the gums. Now, your gums swell when there is a problem within the gum itself, usually brought about by an infection of some sort. This can be gingivitis (early-stage gum disease), periodontitis (mid-stage gum disease) or trench mouth (advanced gum disease). Another painful swelling of the gums can occur when there is a wholesale infection of the mouth, known as gingivostomatitis.
Key signs of an infection could be persistent bad breath, tooth sensitivity to hot or cold food or beverages, sores in the mouth (such as canker sores), or swelling of the jawline or lymph nodes. If any of these present themselves, see an emergency dentist in Camden immediately.
Another cause of swelling could be ill-fitted dentures. Contact your nearest denture clinic to book an appointment.
Loose or Knocked-Out Teeth
Loose teeth can occur over time due to an infection in the root, wear and tear without adequate dental hygiene, or the death of the tooth itself. Teeth can become knocked out by trauma to the mouth.
This can cause serious dental issues as plaque, food, and other debris can easily enter the space between your teeth and gums, making it difficult to clean and/or cause infection and decay far more easily.
Loose or knocked-out teeth will sometimes need to be repaired by a denture clinic, and you’ll need to have either full or partial dentures fitted. If you are experiencing loose teeth or have had teeth knocked out, you need to see an emergency dentist in Camden as soon as possible.
Immediate versus Non-Urgent Issues
Knowing the difference between an immediate problem and a non-urgent problem will save you a lot of anxiety, stress, time, and money.
Some non-urgent dental issues include a lost filling, crown or bridge, dull toothache, small chips or cracks in teeth, trapped food between your teeth, bitten lip or tongue that clots and stops bleeding.
Urgent dental issues must be resolved ASAP and require a visit to an emergency dentist in Camden. These include severe toothache, chipped or broken teeth causing severe pain, and swollen or excessively bleeding gums. Other emergencies can include trauma to the mouth and possible infections.
Contacting an Emergency Dentist
If you suspect you may have an oral health issue that could require emergency treatment, contact your emergency dentist in Camden immediately. This will at least get you an appointment, even if you must wait a day or two for one to become available. If your issue concerns a complete or partial denture, contact the Aesthetic Dental & Denture Clinic for an appointment.
Recognising your dental needs and being able to discern an emergency from a non-urgent issue will help you make better dental health decisions in the long run and will encourage you to take all necessary precautions for your long-term oral health.
