When Do You Need Urgent Dental Care?

Sometimes it can be hard to tell when it is time to visit an emergency dentist in Fairfax, VA and when to handle the situation at home. Take for example a toothache; when you have a painful tooth, the inclination is to use home remedies. However, at times ignoring the pain can lead to other dental complications. That’s why it is important to differentiate between urgent and non-urgent dental emergencies.

What is an Urgent or Dental Emergency?

A dental emergency is an injury or bruising that affects the gums, teeth, and surrounding tissues. Broken restorations like braces and bridges can also be classified as dental emergencies. These bruises can cause bleeding, pain, and swelling creating the need for urgent treatment. When a dental accident occurs, and the injury is minor, it can be managed at home as you wait for an appointment. These types of emergencies are non-urgent and they include broken fillings, dull toothache, minor teeth fractures, and the like.

What are Situations Require Urgent Care?

You may need to visit an emergency dentist in 22031 if you have:

1. Severe and persistent tooth pain

Although food stuck in the gums can cause discomfort, this pain can clear immediately you remove the stuck food particles. However, there are times you may have throbbing pain that causes discomfort and interferes with your daily activities. This type of toothache will require a visit to a dental emergency room for immediate treatment.
Several situations can trigger discomfort like infected pulp.

When the decay spreads to the inner part of the teeth, it can cause lingering tooth sensitivity among other symptoms. A tooth fracture can also cause a severe toothache.

2. Knocked-out teeth

The teeth can get knocked out when playing contact sports or after a fall. When the teeth get dislodged from the socket, whether partially or completely, you need to get urgent treatment. Our Fairfax dentist can save your teeth from extraction if the treatment is started within an hour after the accident.

As you come to the dental clinic, it is recommended that you take of your teeth to prevent any complications. If the teeth are partially avulsed, take the tooth by the crown and try it push it back to the socket. For completely knocked-out teeth, pick the tooth and preserve it in a milk solution.

3. Dry socket

After your teeth are extracted, a blood clot forms within the first 24 hours to facilitate healing. The blood clot is vital to your recovery and you need to take the necessary steps to protect it. If you accidentally cause the clot to break, it will lead to a dry socket. This when the tooth socket is exposed causing pain and bad breath. But, it also interferes with the recovery process and it may take longer for the gums to heal.

4. Dental abscess or localized bacterial infection

When you have a bacterial infection, your immune system will try to fight it off, and as result pus accumulates in the gums. This can cause pain, bad taste, tooth sensitivity, and at times fever. But, if it’s not treated on time, the infection can spread to the surrounding tissues causing inflammation. Dental abscess does not clear without treatment and as such you need to visit an emergency dental clinic to get proper treatment.

5. Bleeding

Gum bleeding should not be taken lightly because at times it can a sign of gum disease. If you notice persistent gum bleeding after brushing your teeth, then you may need urgent dental treatment to check what could be the cause.

What Can You Do?

When a dental emergency occurs, how you handle it can determine the success of your treatment.

• Bite a gauze pad or apply a teabag for 20 minutes to control the bleeding.
• Apply an ice pack or cold compress on your cheek to reduce swelling.
• Rinse your mouth with lukewarm water to get rid of dirt and any debris.
• Avoid taking any pain medication without consulting the dentist because certain medications can cause inflammation.

Lastly, visit Drummond Dental Care for immediate assistance and proper treatment.