Dental Care

4 SIGNS YOU NEED URGENT DENTAL CARE

Most dental problems have one thing in common: they get more serious the longer you leave them alone. The best way to deal with a possible dental problem is to address it right away. The faster you have a dentist treat your problem professionally, the lower the chance it becomes something very serious. That’s what seeking urgent dental care is all about.

When it comes to dental problems, there’s virtually no such thing as being “too cautious.” If you suspect you have a dental problem, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. If you have any of the following symptoms, you should go see your dentist right away. By solving your little problem right away, we can keep it from becoming a bigger problem.

YOUR GUMS ARE BLEEDING

Don’t panic: bleeding gums are not always a sign of a dental emergency. They are, however, a sign that your gums aren’t as healthy as they should be. Usually, gums first begin to bleed because of the early stages of gingivitis. Gingivitis is a minor gum disease that happens when plaque irritates the gums, causing them to become red, swell, and sometimes bleed. Although gingivitis is not a serious problem, it can lead to a serious problem if it isn’t addressed.

Luckily, it’s easy to address gingivitis. When dentists or dental hygienists clean off the plaque irritating the gums and allow you to continue to keep your teeth clean, the gingivitis will go away. Seeking urgent dental care can clear away this plaque quickly and thoroughly, preventing gingivitis from growing into a serious problem. If you notice your gums bleeding, especially throughout the day or while eating, contact your dentist right away. Even if the cause of the bleeding isn’t serious, we can keep it from becoming serious.

IT HURTS TO CHEW

There are several reasons why it may hurt to chew, but all of them are problems worth addressing urgently. Different types of chewing pain may indicate different problems. If your teeth feel especially temperature sensitive, it’s probably because the gums or enamel over the sensitive dentin has been lost. It usually feels like a sharp, “stinging” pain when you eat or drink something hot or cold. If a tooth hurts when you bite down, one or more of your teeth may be cracked or damaged.

Whatever the source of your chewing pain, we recommend you seek dental care as urgently as possible. Not only can a dentist help make sure you can chew more comfortably, they can also prevent further tooth damage. If you have temperature sensitivity, we can find where your dentin is exposed and protect it again. If your teeth are cracked, we can fix them with a crown or replace them outright. Whatever the chewing problem, we can fix it.

YOUR JAW OR MOUTH IS SWOLLEN

Swelling is a sign of a very serious dental infection. You may also experience tooth pain, sensitivity, a bad taste in your mouth, or even a fever. Each of these symptoms are signs of an infection called a dental abscess. A dental abscess is a pocket of pus that forms when bacteria multiply and break down the surrounding tissues. Left unchecked, abscesses can have serious dental and medical consequences.

A dental abscess will never go away on its own. The longer you have an abscess, the higher the chance the infection will spread to other parts of the body. If you suspect you have an abscess, you should seek urgent dental care right away. Dentists treat many abscesses using root canal therapy, however some abscesses require extraction of the tooth.

YOUR TOOTH HAS CHIPPED OR BROKEN

Unfortunately, teeth are not indestructible. They can break, chip, or crack for all kinds of reasons. Often, teeth chip or break as a result of pre-existing structural damaged caused by decay. Obviously, you might also damage your teeth in an accident. You should always address any tooth damage urgently, no matter how minor it may be. Any amount of tooth damage compromises that tooth’s structural integrity. Even a tiny crack can grow into a larger problem quickly.

Seeking urgent dental care can fix a broken tooth quickly and effectively. The specific procedure needed depends on how extensive the damage is. Usually, the problem can be fixed by placing a crown. Dental crowns hold together teeth, preventing further damage and restoring their natural functionality. Restoring a tooth with a crown is a relatively quick and simple process, and it helps protect the tooth from more serious damage.

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If you have any of these symptoms, don’t wait. Contact MS Dental right away to receive urgent dental care. We’ll be able to help with your pain and prevent serious problems.

Urgent dental care is available at MS Dental