It’s important to seek Urgent dental care when a toothache strikes, as waiting can make the problem worse and lead to more extensive, costly treatments down the line. Emergency rooms can also provide treatment for toothache and infection, but they are unable to perform the restorative procedures necessary for long-term relief. Moreover, they don’t have the resources to help with more complex dental issues such as a knocked-out tooth.
Pain that doesn’t subside with over-the-counter medications and a knocked out tooth are all considered dental emergencies and should be treated immediately. Most dentists have special slots available for these kinds of cases.
Toothaches
Toothaches can be a symptom of serious dental problems like infection, exposed roots or tooth decay. These symptoms often manifest as excruciating pain and swelling, and they can also affect your ability to swallow, speak and breathe normally.
Urgent care for a toothache can address immediate discomfort by prescribing antibiotics for infection and providing guidance on how to manage any residual pain. They also steer you toward scheduling a follow-up dental appointment for treatment of the underlying problem, whether that involves pulling the tooth or putting in a filling.
Gum Bleeding
Bleeding gums are typically a symptom of an oral health problem like gingivitis, an early form of gum disease. The condition is most commonly caused by poor oral hygiene, plaque buildup and bacterial acid that irritates the gum tissues. Gingivitis can progress to periodontitis, which is the advanced form of gum disease. It can also be a symptom of other health conditions such as hormone fluctuations during puberty, pregnancy or menopause and blood-clotting disorders like scurvy.
A patient experiencing bleeding gums should visit the emergency dentist as soon as possible. During a comprehensive oral examination, the dentist will inspect the gums and teeth and take X-rays to diagnose the issue. After a treatment plan is created, the dentist can provide the gums with the care they need to heal and stop bleeding. This may include flossing and brushing with a soft-bristled toothbrush and using a mild mouth rinse to soothe inflamed gum tissue. They might also recommend a professional dental cleaning to remove bacteria and tartar from the gums.
Facial Edema
When the face, mouth, or gums become swollen, it can be an indication that something is wrong. If the swelling doesn’t go away within a few days or is accompanied by pain, an unpleasant taste in the mouth, or fever, it’s time to call your emergency dentist.
Swollen faces are a clear sign of serious dental problems, such as a tooth abscess (an infection that results in a pocket of pus) or a salivary gland infection (in which the glands enlarge due to an increased amount of bacteria and decreased production). If left untreated, facial edema can spread to other parts of the body via the bloodstream, leading to sepsis. The good news is that emergency dentists are highly qualified to diagnose the underlying problem and provide effective treatment for facial swelling. In addition, they can help you reduce the swelling at home with cold compresses and anti-inflammatory medications.
Trauma-Induced Injuries
Whether the patient is a child playing sports, or an adult experiencing trauma due to a car accident, or even biting down on a hard object, dental injuries can be serious and lead to lasting complications. A trained emergency dentist can treat the injury and provide relief from pain and discomfort.
Since the emergency departments of hospitals are often the first point of contact for patients with a trauma, it is important that these physicians have sufficient knowledge about dental injuries. A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed in which emergency medicine specialists, residents and GPs were invited to fill out a questionnaire about their knowledge of the management of patients with traumatic dental injuries.
Traumatic dental injuries affect teeth, hard and soft tissues and the dental support structures. They may have a variety of etiological factors such as physical altercations, motor vehicle accidents, falls and certain diseases like epilepsy (2-6). These injuries can be divided into biologically mediated or mechanically mediated injuries.