Do You Have a True Dental Emergency?

No one wants to have a dental emergency. They’re inconvenient, painful, and, they require a trip to the dentist for repair. Ignoring a dental problem, however, is not the way to make it go away. A true dental emergency threatens your teeth and the tissues in your mouth and problems like that require expert attention and immediate treatment.

Here are some signs that you may or may not have a true dental emergency.

Your Mouth Is Bleeding – A Lot

Blood is scary, especially when it’s coming from your mouth. Even a minor blow to the teeth, though, can produce a crazy amount of blood because there are hundreds of blood vessels in your mouth. Many mouth injuries look worse than they really are and a lot of blood doesn’t always indicate a dental emergency. Call your dentist just to make sure. It’s always better to be cautious and be told that you don’t have an urgent problem than wait for the issue to get worse.

The Pain Is Unbearable

Pain is a true indicator of a major oral health problem. Legitimate tooth pain rarely goes away on its own. If you are to the point where your mouth is throbbing, swollen, or inflamed, something is wrong and it needs to be fixed as soon as possible. An over-the-counter pain reliever isn’t going to cut it – you need to see your dentist, have an examination, get x-rays especially if the problem isn’t visible, and have the issue addressed to relieve the discomfort and prevent further complications.

You Chipped a Tooth

Cosmetic problems are not always dental emergencies. While you should be seen for them sooner rather than later, they may not require a same-day emergency dental visit. If you chip a prominent tooth, it will be noticeable, you might be self-conscious, but it might not be a threat to the tooth itself or the tissues in your mouth, particularly if it’s a chipped veneer. Your Healdsburg dentist will still want to see you soon, but you won’t have to worry quite as much until that time.

Your Invisalign® Tray Broke

Invisalign® treatment is designed for consistency. Unfortunately, accidents happen and trays get lost, broken, or thrown away. When this occurs, your dentist needs to know immediately. You may be instructed to put in your previous trays or move on to the next trays until the current ones can be replaced. It depends on where you are in your treatment and what comes next. Don’t wait to report this problem – your teeth need to move at certain times for the treatment to work effectively. A broken tray is a dental emergency.

Always Call Your Healdsburg Dentist for a Dental Emergency

It may not look like you have a dental emergency, but if it feels like something is wrong, there’s no denying that there’s a problem. Always call your dentist to discuss the circumstances and allow the professional to determine whether you need to be seen immediately. The longer you wait to address an issue, the greater the likelihood that you will develop further complications.

No one wants to have a true dental emergency, but it’s better to admit it and get it fixed quickly to avoid stress, expense, and pain. Contact Healdsburg Dental Spa to discuss your situation or make an appointment.