Dental emergencies can happen at any time without any advance warning. Maybe you are playing pickleball, lose your footing, and fall down, hitting your mouth on the ground and knocking out a tooth. Maybe you are chewing gum, and the next thing you know, a filling has been pulled out of one of your teeth. No matter the dental emergency, it is vital to visit an emergency dentist as soon as possible. Â
Find an emergency dentist in Houston today.Â
1. Toothaches
Toothaches should not be ignored, as they indicate an underlying problem that needs to be treated. The most common causes of toothaches are tooth decay and cavities. If the cavity is not filled, it can develop into a dental abscess.Â
A dental abscess is a type of infection in the tooth’s root that develops and grows inside a pus-filled pocket that can burst open. If the abscess is not resolved, the infection can start to spread into surrounding teeth and the gum tissue. Abscesses are usually treated using antibiotics and a root canal.Â
2. Cracked, Broken, Or Knocked-Out Teeth
If you experience a cracked, broken, or knocked-out tooth from an accident or other event, it is crucial to see an emergency dentist immediately. Cracked and broken teeth can be left vulnerable to infection and tooth decay. Knocked-out teeth leave the root socket exposed, which could get infected.Â
If you have the knocked-out tooth and quickly see a dentist, it may be possible to save it. It is important not to rinse off the tooth. Put it in a container or zip-locking plastic bag with milk as soon as possible. When handling the tooth, try not to touch the bottom and only handle it by the top.Â
If you lost the tooth, you still need to see an emergency dentist to ensure the root pocket is protected from infection. Once the root pocket heals, you can get an implant or dental bridge to replace the missing tooth.Â
3. Sore, Swollen, And Bleeding Gums
Sore, swollen, and bleeding gums can indicate an infection in the gum tissue. It can also mean you have gum disease. You should see an emergency dentist to determine if you have an infection or gum disease. Antibiotics are prescribed to treat infections.Â
With gum disease, this is the early stage of periodontal disease. This is where the gum tissue pulls away from the base of the tooth and slowly starts receding, exposing more of the tooth. Eventually, the entire root can be exposed, and the tooth can fall out. It is possible to reverse the effects of gum disease if it is caught in this initial stage. However, if it progresses further, there is no way to fully reverse the effects of periodontal disease. Â
Until you can see an emergency dentist, you can use ice packs to help with soreness and swelling. You can also apply gauze pads to the location of the bleeding to try to get it to stop.Â
4. Lost Tooth Fillings
Tooth fillings can and do wear out over time. They can also be pulled out of the teeth when eating sticky foods. If you lose a tooth filling, the interior of the tooth that leads down into the root is left exposed to bacteria.Â
If you do not get the tooth refilled quickly, it can lead to dental decay and a dental abscess in the root. This will lead to a toothache, pain, and discomfort. The tooth’s structure can also be weakened without the support of the filling. So, you could also crack and break the tooth, leading to further dental issues. Resolving lost tooth fillings in Houston is easy and requires installing a new filling into the tooth.Â
5. Broken Dental Appliance
You will want to resolve dental emergencies involving broken dental appliances as soon as possible. Dental appliances include:
- Implants
- Crowns
- Bridges
- DenturesÂ
- Partial plates
- Braces
Broken dental appliances make it difficult to eat and chew food. You may also have difficulties speaking or drinking liquids. You may even be embarrassed about your smile. Fixing dental appliances is usually not too difficult, and there are temporary solutions available when it will take some time to get a replacement made.Â
A dental crown protects the tooth from cavities after a root canal is performed. You will want to get a temporary crown placed quickly so the tooth underneath does not decay or to prevent bacteria from making its way down into the gum tissue and causing an infection.
Resolve Dental Emergencies Easily In Houston At Urbn Dental
When you have a dental emergency, it is easy to resolve it by seeing one of the emergency dentists at URBN Dental in Houston. We have offices throughout the Greater Houston Area as well as in Katy. Our emergency dentists are available 24/7 to resolve all types of dental emergencies, including wisdom tooth extraction emergency surgery.Â
They are also trained to provide Level 1 Dental Trauma care in area emergency rooms. So, you can visit an emergency dentist to get the emergency care you need, either in our office or an emergency room, depending on the type of dental emergency.Â
Get emergency dental care in Houston today.
Sources:
Different Types of Dental Crowns. (2023).
Fractured and Broken Teeth. (2023).
Gum Disease 101. (2023).