Emergency Dentistry

Toothaches are one of the most common dental emergencies and can be caused by decay, infection, trauma, or injury. If left untreated, a condition in the tooth can spread throughout the mouth and face, causing further complications. The area around the affected tooth may feel sore to the touch, and the patient may also experience swelling and sensitivity to temperature changes. A prompt visit to the dentist will be necessary to determine what is causing the pain and treat it appropriately.

Chipped or broken teeth might not necessarily cause pain at first, but a dentist should still see them as soon as possible to avoid further damage and complications like infection. Treatment will depend on how severe the break is – simple cracks can sometimes be fixed with composite bonding, while more severe breaks might require root canal therapy or extraction.

Knocked-out teeth are also considered a dental emergency and need immediate treatment within two hours of occurrence to increase the chances of successful replantation. It’s important for patients not to touch or clean the tooth but rinse it off gently with water before placing it back into its socket (if possible) or keeping it moist in milk for transportation to the dentist’s office.

Dental abscesses are another type of dental emergency that must receive prompt attention from a qualified professional before they spread further into other parts of the body through bacteria in saliva, which can lead to systemic infections and illnesses with potentially fatal results if left untreated for too long. These abscesses are usually accompanied by severe pain in or around teeth, fever, or swollen lymph nodes in the neck area; treatment usually involves draining off pus, cleaning up infected area, and antibiotics prescription for faster healing.