When Should I Seek a Same-Day Emergency Dental Appointment?

Dental emergencies tend to strike at the least convenient times, and many oral health problems can lead to serious complications if they do not receive prompt treatment. Thankfully, many emergency dentists offer same-day appointments so they can address their patients’ dental crises in a timely manner. Here’s a quick look at a few dental emergencies that require immediate attention from an oral health professional.

Toothache

Teeth can hurt for a wide variety of reasons such as gum inflammation and soft tissue injuries, and dental pain usually isn’t a big deal if it is mild and goes on its way on its own after a little while. However, the sudden onset of a severe toothache is usually indicative of a destructive oral infection that can lead to a host of nasty consequences like tooth loss and dangerous secondary infections. If you experience throbbing, miserable tooth pain that disrupts your life or doesn’t go away on its own after about a day, contact your emergency dentist.

Knocking Out a Tooth

A tooth that is partially or completely dislodged from its socket is at immediate risk of being permanently lost, so it’s important to see your emergency dentist as soon as possible. If the tooth is no longer in the mouth, be sure to store it in a vessel with some milk or saliva to help it stay moist and nourished until you get to the dentist’s office. If the tooth is dirty, you can clean it by gently swishing it about in a bowl of lukewarm water, but be sure to never use harsh cleaning agents like soap. It’s also important to remember not to scrub the dislodged tooth or touch the exposed root tissue. Take care to handle the tooth only by the crown.

A dislodged tooth’s chances of being saved will fall sharply after about thirty minutes, so it’s important to schedule an appointment with your emergency dentist for within an hour of the injury. However, if you have an ADA-approved tooth preservation kit, you may be able to keep the tooth in viable condition for up to twenty-four hours. If you or a loved one plays sports, it might be a great idea to stock up on these kits so you have them ready in case of emergency.

Don’t let untreated dental emergencies lead to unpleasant long-term oral health consequences. Scheduling a same-day emergency dentist’s appointment when you need one can help you keep your smile beautiful and healthy for life.

About the Author

Dr. Sowmya Kumar earned her dental degree at the University of Florida College of Dentistry and regularly participates in continuing education courses to keep her skills current. Her office in Rockledge offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dental care. If you are experiencing a dental emergency, please dial (321) 631-4334. If you’d like to learn more about her office, please contact her staff online.