Teeth are not luxury bones.

You may have heard that saying about dental healthcare in America, but it is simply not true. The integrity of your teeth is essential to your overall health.

Knowing when you have a dental emergency can save your life. An innocent toothache can fast become a life-endangering abscess. The bacteria exposed in your mouth can drain into your bloodstream and even to your brain.

One infection could lead to the loss of all your teeth.

Read on to know when you should be going to the emergency dentist for any dental issues or dental problems.

Dental Emergency Definition

How do you know you are experiencing a dental emergency?

The biggest indicator is that you are experiencing severe pain. Your mouth has a lot of nerves that are exposed when your teeth are compromised. This can be extraordinarily painful, so much so that you cannot function as normal.

Scenarios like a loose filling or chipped crowns are inconvenient but not emergencies.

If you suspect you have any of the following, you need to see an emergency dentist ASAP. Dental issues are often insidious; don’t try to grit your literal teeth through the pain.

  • A sudden toothache that keeps getting worse
  • Tooth or jaw pain and trouble opening your mouth (could indicate an abscess)
  • Chips or cracks in any of your teeth
  • Teeth feel loose or you lost teeth
  • Lacerations, punctures, or tears to the soft tissue (gums, tongues, inside your cheeks)

Severe Dental Problems

Unfortunately, dental emergencies are extremely common in America. Most problems can be prevented with regular care and dental consultations, but this is not always possible.

Pulpitis, missing teeth, abscesses, and necrosis of tissue are serious complications that develop and worsen in dental patients. These issues could present in a variety of ways, such as headaches, loss of balance, a fever, and so on. Doctors will need to find the etiology of a patients’ pain; sometimes a dental issue is not behind a toothache, but they need to make sure anyway.

The number one sign that you are experiencing a dental emergency is pain. If you are in a lot of pain, definitely go to an emergency room or emergency care center.

For example, if you have a tiny chip in your tooth but not a lot of pain, then perhaps a visit to a dentist can wait. However, if you have a chip verging on a fracture causing you screaming pain, then don’t wait to go. Unexplained pain in your mouth can be a cause for much anxiety, but don’t delay the visit to the dentist; preventative treatment is best.

Proactive Steps

If you are experiencing severe pain or have an obvious cause (e.g. cracked or missing teeth and lacerations in the mouth) to expect a dental emergency, take action sooner than later. Taking action sooner can save your life.

Contact us for a dental consultation or for our emergency dental procedures. Our doctors are always happy to help.