What Counts as a Dental Emergency?

A dental emergency often causes severe pain, swelling, discomfort, and more. However, many people wonder what exactly counts as a dental emergency. Perhaps the condition can wait until regular hours. Not every dental problem is an emergency. If you are experiencing severe pain or bleeding, or have sustained a bad dental injury, you should probably seek emergency dental care.

Dr. Patrick V. Nicosia offers emergency dental care at Patrick V. Nicosia D.D.S., M.S., Inc. in Houston, TX. Are you experiencing a dental emergency? If so, Dr. Nicosia and his team offer emergency dental treatment to help meet your needs as quickly as possible. The dental team can resolve many dental problems, such as damaged, fractured, or knocked-out teeth.

Are you experiencing a dental emergency?

If you believe that you are experiencing a dental emergency, then answer these questions:

• Are you in severe pain?
• Are you bleeding?
• Is your tooth loose, or has it fallen out?
• Is your tooth infected or abscessed?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you are likely experiencing a dental emergency.

Common dental emergencies

Some of the most common dental emergencies include:

• Severe toothache: A toothache causes a great deal of pain and can hinder eating or drinking. You can try at-home treatments such as applying a cold compress, rinsing your tooth with salt water, or using over-the-counter pain medications to gain relief. If you are still in excruciating pain, you’ll need to make an emergency dental appointment to gain relief.
• Bleeding gums: Are your gums bleeding and swollen from trauma or some other mishap? If so, then you might be experiencing a dental emergency.
• Swelling in the mouth or jaw: If you have swelling in the lymph nodes, mouth, gumline, or jaw combined with pain, then you might have an abscess or infection that could become life-threatening if not treated.
• Exposed nerve: An exposed nerve causes excruciating pain. It can happen if your tooth is badly decayed or broken in a sudden accident. Left untreated, the nerve will die, and an abscess will form.
• Knocked-out tooth: A knocked-out tooth is an actual emergency. If the tooth is knocked out from an impact, you need to take immediate action to save the tooth. You’ll want to rinse it with cool water and try to reinsert it into the tooth socket. If you cannot reinsert the tooth, place it in a glass of water or milk until you can see Dr. Nicosia in Houston, TX for emergency care.
• Missing filling: If your filling falls out, then the nerve in the tooth can become exposed to the air, which causes pain. Left untreated, the nerve can become infected and abscess.
• Broken crown: A broken crown can quickly fall off, leaving your tooth exposed and causing pain. Infection and swelling can quickly set in, causing a great deal of discomfort.

Schedule a dental emergency appointment in Houston, TX today

Are you suffering from a dental emergency? If so, we encourage you to reach out to Dr. Patrick V. Nicosia and his team at Patrick V. Nicosia D.D.S., M.S., Inc. in Houston, TX for emergency care. Dr. Nicosia will examine your dental problem and suggest treatment solutions to bring you much-needed relief and help restore your dental health. Contact us today if you have a dental emergency.