A dental emergency is simply a tooth-related issue that requires prompt attention. There may be severe bleeding from the wound, a tooth being knocked out of your mouth, or excruciating pain. In these situations, visiting a dentist right away can save your tooth, ease your pain, and stop an infection from getting worse. Here are some less obvious examples of when you should visit a dentist immediately.
Swollen Gums
Swollen gums are a common symptom most patients will experience, the cause can be determined after visiting the dentist for your biannual check-up. Outside of this, larger-than-normal gums are your body’s way of telling you something is wrong. Swollen gums are an indication of inflammation, which could be caused by an infection. The inflammation could be caused by an abscess, which causes pus to accumulate around the infection site. Oral medication or a root canal may be used in the treatment protocol.
Swollen gums are often caused by:
- Pericoronitis, or localized gum inflammation of the flap of skin covering the partially erupted tooth, is a condition that occurs around an impacted wisdom tooth. We would need to remove the debris locally in that area, and a dentist visit is necessary. On occasion, antibiotics may also be required. It’s important to discuss with your dentist whether wisdom teeth removal is necessary if there is persistent swelling in the same area.
- A sign of bacteria build-up brought on by plaque left on the teeth. Usually found all over the mouth as a result of improper brushing or oral hygiene practices. This happens frequently, and our hygienist is fully prepared to help you get back on track.
- Localized gum swelling, which is typically found above a tooth, can resemble a pimple on the surface of your gum. Diagnostic imaging is required by your dentist and often we find an abscess discovered beneath the tooth root when this occurs. Not all root abscesses are accompanied by swollen gums; some cause teeth to hurt when you bite down on them or a dull ache that lasts all day and night.
Continuous Bleeding
Healthy gums should not bleed. While it is common for most to experience bleeding gums at least once in our lives, it is our body’s sign that inflammation is present. If it persists after thorough at-home cleaning and flossing. It is essential to visit your hygienist regularly.
This should go without saying, but if you’re experiencing gum bleeding that won’t stop, there’s clearly something wrong. While bleeding gums are not always abnormal, those with sensitive gums may experience it if they brush or floss too aggressively; it is a classic symptom of gingivitis. Gingivitis is a gum disease that causes inflammation and bleeding at the gumline. Periodontitis, diabetes, and vitamin deficiencies are all potential causes of severe bleeding. Because there are so many possibilities, getting the problem checked out as soon as possible is critical. The solution could be simple, or it could require more invasive treatment.
Avulsion Or Luxation
Although you might not be familiar with either of these terms you probably know how they appear. An avulsion is when a tooth or teeth are knocked-out of their socket, which will require a same-day urgent appointment with your dentist to place the tooth back in its position. Whereas luxation is when a tooth is displaced from its standard upright biting position and is still in your mouth, it is when a tooth is knocked and positioned at an angle after a trauma. In either case, it’s important to see a dentist on the same day of injury. They will need to position or place the teeth back or close to their original position as possible and splint them to their neighbouring teeth to help the injured socket heal around the area and strengthen their position. These dental emergencies often result from sports, car accidents, or any type of blow to the head.
Hutt Dental Hub
Every week, we set aside a few appointments for emergency dental care so that we can assist those who require immediate treatment. These include severe toothaches, infections, trauma, and oral bleeding. Our staff will do everything possible to get you out of pain as soon as possible and will treat you with respect and kindness. If you require an emergency appointment, please contact our team as soon as possible as they may be able to offer you a time slot. Our goal during this appointment will be to alleviate all pain and address the underlying problem. You may require additional follow-up appointments in the future.
