If only everything was routine and went as expected. That’s not true about many things in life. Surprises — good and bad — emerge constantly. Most people have a pretty good handle on how to respond to a medical emergency, like when to go to the emergency room versus calling their doctor during regular office hours. That’s not as true about dental emergencies, though.
Dentistry focuses so much on establishing
regular and daily habits that we sometimes lose sight of the fact that
emergencies affecting your teeth, gums, and mouth do arise. The last thing you
want to be doing in case of any
emergency is scrambling to know what to do. Rather than trying to figure it all
out in moments of stress and anxiety, here are five situations when you should
seek emergency dental care in SW Calgary. If you or a family member are ever
experiencing one of these emergencies, contact an emergency dentist near you
for quick support and guidance.
Broken tooth
Your teeth are made of incredibly strong
material and can withstand significant pressure — but can break. Common causes
of broken teeth include sporting collisions, automobile accidents, slip and
falls, acts of violence, and even simply biting down on too hard an object.
Those same incidents can also cause damage and injury to your gums, tongue, and
the inside of your lips and cheeks. If you’ve suffered a broken tooth or damage
to the inside of your mouth in any type of incident, seek emergency dental care
near you. They’ll address any risk of infection, help with the immediate pain,
and may even be able to save your tooth.
Unexplained or severe toothaches
Minor, fleeting, and occasional toothaches are
an unfortunate fact of life. Toothaches that worsen over time rather than
getting better, or that are severe rather than annoying, or that are
accompanied by fever, swelling, or a bad taste or smell in your mouth are not routine. They may indicate the
presence of a serious tooth infection requiring emergency treatment to prevent
more serious complications.
Bleeding gums
Everyone has experienced some bleeding from
your gums when brushing or flossing. An isolated incident of bleeding that
stops quickly is not something to be worried about — especially if you’ve
already been diagnosed with gingivitis or periodontitis and are undergoing
treatment. If your unexpected and unexplained bleeding persists, re-occurs time
after time, or is accompanied by any swelling or pain, you should contact an
emergency dentist. Let them recommend how concerned you should be, and how
quickly you should see a dentist for support.
Swollen mouth or jaw
Swelling in your mouth or jaw can indicate conditions as serious as gum disease, infections, swollen lymph nodes, and even some forms of cancer. The mere presence of swelling does not indicate the presence of those issues, but swelling warrants getting in touch with an emergency dentist right away — especially if combined with any of the other symptoms on this list — so your dentist can eliminate the biggest areas of concern.
Metallic taste in your mouth
If you have dental work in your mouth, the taste of metal can be a sign that some of that dental work is damaged or getting loose. The longer that situation persists, the more vulnerable the affected tooth is to further injury, and the greater the chance you’ll experience significant discomfort if the interior of your tooth or jaw is exposed. With time also comes an increased risk of infection due to the entry of bacteria into areas previously protected by sound dental work. Repair of dental work may not always have to be done on an emergency basis, but contact an emergency dentist near you and let them help you make that decision.
We know you don’t want to think about dental emergencies, but we also know you wouldn’t want to face a dental emergency without support. If you’re new to the area or don’t have an established dentist, get in touch with a dentist providing emergency dental care near you. You can do it before an emergency strikes, or keep the dentist’s number close at hand. But please, be in touch in any of these situations.