There are some dental issues that can wait until regular office hours. Others need immediate attention. With the latter, choosing to wait before going to an emergency dental clinic could mean permanently losing teeth or dealing with a condition that never had to get so complicated. When should you seek emergency dental care? Here are four examples to consider.
There’s Pain – Lots of It
With a simple toothache, taking some type of pain reliever and applying some ice will usually dull the pain enough to get by until the dental clinic opens the next business day. What if these and other basic remedies don’t get the pain under control? That could mean the underlying cause for your discomfort is more complex than you realize.
When the pain is severe and nothing seems to help, don’t try toughing it out. Call the clinic and tell them what’s going on. If they say to come in, then get there as quickly as you can. Depending on the reason for the pain, you could find yourself feeling a lot of relief in an hour or less.
The Bleeding Won’t Stop
There’s blood along the gum line and nothing seems to slow it down. You’ve tried everything that you have in your arsenal of home care products and nothing seems to make a difference. Losing that amount of blood means something is seriously wrong. Before things can get any worse, call the clinic and let them know you’re on the way. Give the fact that the blood won’t stop, it’s a good idea to leave the driving to someone else.
Your Teeth Are Loose or Knocked Out
Whether you were playing sports in the backyard or fell off a ladder while cleaning the gutters, the result was a direct hit to the mouth. Now you have teeth that are seriously loose. Maybe there’s even one or two that have popped out of the sockets. This is not a time to wait and see if things are better in the morning.
Put the teeth that popped out on ice and make your way to the clinic as quickly as you can. With a little luck, they can be inserted back into the sockets. The team can also see what they can do to ensure all of your loose teeth settle back into the sockets properly. While it will take a few days for the swelling to subside, care by professionals now increases the odds that the accident won’t end up claiming any of your teeth.
The Swelling is Almost Unbearable
Your gums are swelling and you have no reason why. All you know is that they are hot and tender to the touch. You’ve tried oral rinses, ice packs, and over the counter pain relievers to no avail. The swelling and the discomfort are still there.
Call the clinic and describe what’s happening. Go in and let a professional take a look. There’s a good chance that you have some sort of infection that’s advanced to a serious stage. The proper treatment now will help you avoid other dental issues later on.
The bottom line is that severe pain and swelling is not something to be taken lightly. If your efforts at home make no difference, arrange to see a dental professional as quickly as possible. In the long run, you’ll be glad that you did.