4 Reasons You Should Definitely Visit an Emergency Dentist
Whether it be painful gums, missing teeth, or simply a sore jaw, there are many potential occasions when you may be left contemplating whether you need to visit an emergency dentist or wait for a later dental appointment. With a dental practice now around almost every corner in Australia, you should have no problem finding a dentist, no matter the time. Therefore, the only thing stopping you from visiting a dentist in the case of a potential dental emergency is a decision of yours. To make your decision within this realm more educated, it's good to know in what cases it is important to visit an emergency dentist. So, what are some of these cases?
Heavily Bleeding Gums
A small amount of blood produced from gums when brushing or flossing your teeth is completely normal. However, when your gums are bleeding heavily or are swollen, you certainly need a dentist's attention. You may have developed a case of gingivitis, which can lead to a very serious condition called periodontitis, which is accompanied by loose teeth and shrinking gums, a very unsightly and subjectively disturbing condition.
A Loose Tooth
Though a small amount of dental mobility is completely normal, when you can move a tooth a couple millimetres or more from its original position, you likely have a problem. Having a loose tooth or multiple teeth is a very serious issue and can be caused by things like impact, gum disease, or potentially even rotting of the jawbone. Any potential signs of these issues need to be evaluated by an emergency dentist as soon as possible.
Sudden Tooth Pain or High Sensitivity
A tooth suddenly painful or highly sensitive to heat, cold, or sugary foods or beverages is generally in urgent need of professional assessment. You could potentially have deep cavities, or something much more severe in development, and may need a filling or more serious surgeries. If the idea of going to a dentist to potentially repair a cavity fills you with fear, it's important to keep in mind that the problem will only worsen the longer you wait.
A Knocked out or Broken Tooth
You may think there is nothing that can be done, but today, dentists can actually put a tooth back into its socket permanently, in the case of it being knocked out. They can also even re-attach pieces of a tooth that have broken off, within reason. In the case of a knocked out or broken tooth, you should immediately call an emergency dentist near you and arrange an appointment. You should also bring the knocked out tooth or tooth piece, keeping in mind to never touch the root, or any exposed fleshy areas of the tooth or tooth fragment. In addition, in the case of a knocked out tooth, you should try to put the tooth back into its socket, and hold it there, by getting the subject of the injury to bite down upon a wet towel, or other soft, clean alternative. This greatly increases the chances of the tooth surviving the trip to an emergency dentist.
If you are experiencing any of these things, contact an emergency dentist, such as those at Dr David Young & Associates Dental Surgeons, right away.