A dental problem could occur at any time. When you start to feel pain or discomfort in your mouth, what should you do? Should you ignore the problem, schedule a future dental appointment, or seek urgent dental care from your Spring dentist? This blog post shares some signs that you should receive treatment right away. It also helps you to recognize less urgent dental problems.
Urgent Dental Situations
You should contact your dentist immediately for certain dental issues. If you fail to do so, the problem could quickly worsen and increase your risk of severe or long-term complications. Call your dentist right away if you experience:
- An abscess. This is a pus-filled pocket that forms near the root of a tooth (it kind of looks like a pimple). It signals a serious infection that may cause severe pain, swelling, and fever. If left untreated, it could lead to more severe health problems.
- An avulsed tooth. When a tooth gets completely or partially knocked out, you should see your dentist within an hour or two in order to increase the chances that the tooth can be saved.
- A tooth gets broken or fractured. Depending on how severe the damage is, you may experience intense pain and be more vulnerable to infections.
- A severe toothache. If your pain is bad enough to interfere with your daily life, you should seek treatment ASAP.
Less Urgent Dental Problems
Not all dental issues require immediate attention. Minor toothaches, small chips or cracks in teeth, and lost fillings or crowns, while uncomfortable, usually do not need urgent care. You can manage these problems by maintaining good oral hygiene and avoiding hard or sticky foods that may aggravate the issue. It is still important to schedule a dental appointment as soon as possible (ideally within a few days) to address these problems, but you do not need to rush to the dentist right away.
When in Doubt, Ask for Assistance
If you are not sure whether your dental problem requires urgent care, call your dentist and describe the situation. They may tell you to visit right away, or they might give you tips on home care to tide you over until your appointment.
Your dentist is ready to help you with urgent oral health problems! Call them ASAP if you are in pain or have serious concerns about your smile’s well-being.
Meet the Practice
At Spring Dentist, Dr. Joshua Kuykendall and our team are proud to provide top-quality oral health services for our community. We are often able to welcome emergency patients on a same-day basis, so do not hesitate to call if you have an urgent or severe dental problem. To learn more about us or to request an appointment, call our office at 281-353-9797.