3 Dental Emergencies That Must Be Treated Immediately

Three Dental Emergencies You Need to Have Treated Immediately

While many uncomfortable dental conditions can wait until your next scheduled appointment, there are some instances where you need to contact our offices immediately. These dental concerns cannot and should not wait. Left untreated for any length of time, these may end up causing greater pain and financial obligations if you wait.

Broken Tooth Emergencies

If you or someone else has broken a tooth, you need to save the tooth and contact us right away. The tooth should not be washed and needs to be kept moist. Attempt to place it back in the area if possible. Otherwise, hold it between your gum and cheek or in a glass of milk until you reach our office.

Swollen Gums and Face

If you suddenly notice swelling of your gums and face, you most likely have an infection. It is important that you get on an antibiotic routine as soon as possible. You absolutely do not want the infection spreading elsewhere, particularly considering the close proximity of the brain to your gums.

Object Stuck in Mouth

If you have a piece of food or another object get wedged between your teeth, you may attempt to gently remove it. However, if it does not respond to normal efforts, do not force the situation. Instead, call our emergency number.

Left for longer periods of time, the foreign object will cause considerable pain and may lead to infection. Our staff will remove it for you and treat the area to ensure it heals properly.

If you experience any of these situations, do not hesitate to give us a call any time of day or night. We will gladly see you and provide the appropriate treatment so you can enjoy better oral health. In many instances, we will set up a follow-up visit to ensure your mouth is healing properly.

Facial Swelling and Dental Emergencies

facial swelling from a dental abscess gum infection There are several things which can constitute a medical emergency, including pain, oozing sores and swelling. In some instances, all of these may occur; in others only one of these symptoms may be present. If a tooth or the gum around it is not in significant pain, some of our patients make the mistake of thinking that it is fine. However, if the area is swollen, you need to contact our office immediately.

Swelling is a sign of something being seriously wrong. Our patients need and deserve to have a correct diagnosis as soon as possible. In some instances, it may even save the life of a person. This is because swelling often accompanies some form of infection.

While infections anywhere in the body are serious and need to be addressed by a medical professional quickly, when it occurs in the head, the situation becomes more critical. This is because if the infection gets into the blood it can rapidly reach the brain. Patients can suffer a great deal of harm to this vital organ if this occurs, including but not limited to an unexpected and rapid decline leading to loss of life.

Besides a serious infection that can spread quickly, there are other types of infection and irritation that can cause swelling of the face. Viral infections like herpes usually have accompanying pain but not always. The transmittable disease syphilis can cause red swelling that is not painful. Likewise, patients may have some other form of infection, including those caused by fungi and bacteria.

At times, we see patients who have swelling after experiencing some type of injury. Whether it is related to sports or just a simple fall at home, this situation should be checked out by one of our staff. It is not uncommon for people to think the swelling and pain will subside when there is actually something more serious going on. For instance, there may be a chip of tooth embedded in the gum. When patients get to us quickly, we have more options to reduce the pain/swelling and possibly save a broken tooth.

These are just some of the types of emergencies that we treat when patients have facial swelling. Having a proper diagnosis as quickly as possible is imperative to successful treatment. If you are experiencing swelling, with or without pain, call our office today so we can help you.

When To See A Dentist For Swollen Gums

If you are suffering from painful, swollen gums you know that something is not right in your mouth, but whether or not you need to seek the attention of a dentist immediately can be confusing. One clear situation in which you definitely need emergency treatment is if the swollen area contains an abscess.

An abscess is a fluid filled pocket, much like a blister, except that it is in your mouth. This is particularly concerning, however, because it is likely to be infected. An infection of the mouth, if left untreated, can actually be life threatening due to the speed in which it can spread into the blood. You should seek treatment by a dentist as soon as you notice this type of condition.

Another time that you should seek the help of a dentist is if your swollen and painful gums are a result of a broken or chipped tooth. As you read above, the reason that your gums are swollen could be due to a serious infection. When your teeth suffer trauma it makes it easier for germs to invade areas that were once protected. A dentist can fix the problem as well as clean your mouth so that the infection is stopped before it becomes worse.

Other situations in which you should seek immediate emergency dental care are when there are additional symptoms to the swelling of gums. Extreme swelling or pain are a sign that something serious is occurring. You should also go in if you have a fever, or just do not feel well. It is a sign that there is infection. Finally, if the swelling is causing your tooth to feel loose, you definitely need to get to a dentist as soon as you can.

These are the most common signs that you need the help of a dentist in order for the condition to be remedied. Many times people hope that the problem will go away for it to just get worse. The sooner that you get the right care, the better off you will be in the long run. There really is no reason to suffer for longer than you have to, and in some cases you may be even putting your life at risk.

If you experience any of the symptoms above, or are merely concerned that something is not right, you should see a dentist immediately.

Emergency Dental Care: Four Symptoms Not to Be Ignored

swollengums Nobody likes going to the dentist. I cannot think of one person of my acquaintance who looks forward to that necessary obligation. But sometimes it cannot be avoided. At some point in your life, you too may find yourself in need of emergency dental care.

Listed below are four symptoms that should not be ignored. Seek emergency dental care immediately if you experience any of these symptoms.

1. Cracked or broken Tooth
If you discover a crack or break in a teeth, you should have it repaired by a dentist immediately. A cracked tooth is vulnerable to decay. This means that, if ignored, the small crack could well become a cavity. Absent treatment, that cavity will continue to decay until it becomes unsalvageable. This would result in the removal of that tooth, or an emergency root canal.

If it decays it may also cause bad breath as well as increasingly intense pain. All of this can be avoided by seeing a dentist as soon as you become aware of a cracked or broken tooth.

2. A Knocked Out Tooth
Besides an unsightly gap in your mouth, this too can lead to serious problems from decay to cavities to removal of the remaining root. After that, expensive bridgework would be necessary, work that may or may not be covered by your insurance.

3. Painful or Swollen Gums
If you experience a growing pain that becomes more and more severe with time and is accompanied by swelling, you likely have yourself an abscessed tooth. This can be very painful. The abscess and throbbing means it is severely infected and needs immediate attention. Consider an abscessed tooth a dental emergency.

4. Lost Filling
If you ignore a lost filling, you will eventually pay for it in the form of major dental work due to the deterioration of that tooth.

Remember, good dental maintenance is your friend. It can help you prevent all four of the above scenarios. So be smart and don’t ignore dental emergencies.

For a list of dentists in the Milwaukee area click here…

How To Know If You Have a Dental Emergency

What Is A Dental Emergency And How Do I Tell If I Have One?

People will call us with a question that’s urgent from time to time and they want to know if they have a problem with a dental emergency. While you’re not going to be turned away during a problem you’re having, you will need to know what an emergency consists of so you know when to let the dentist know you need help.

A Tooth That’s Fractured

While you don’t have to get emergency help in every situation where you fracture a tooth, you may find that it’s really severe. If you have a severe aching in your tooth then you probably will need emergency help.

Swelling That’s Bad

If you’re having a problem with swelling and not being able to comfort yourself it could mean that you’re dealing with an infection. If your gums are swollen in any way then it’s probably a good idea to call in for help.

If You’ve Had A Tooth Knocked Out

Apply a warm compress to your gums where the tooth came out so you can stop the blood from flowing there. You should take the tooth along for the dentist visit because they may be able to put that tooth back in.

When You Have An Extruded Tooth

An extruded tooth is when you have a tooth that’s not in the right place and it’s hurting you because it’s sticking out forward or backwards. Don’t try adjusting your tooth by yourself, we are able to fix it for you.

A Tooth That’s Abscessed

If you’re dealing with an abscessed tooth it will swell up and there will be pus coming from it while it turns another color. Even if nothing in particular caused this, you need to get help with this because it is a dental emergency.

When you have any doubts about this sort of thing you shouldn’t hesitate to give us a call.. We will let you know whether or not you have an emergency and what you can do about it.

Contact Emergencydentistmilwaukee.com for more information.