When Should I Consider it a Dental Emergency?

A dental emergency occurs when you have an injury, infection or something else that poses an immediate threat to your teeth, mouth or supporting tissues. When you have a dental emergency, you need to seek medical attention right away to ensure the best outcome possible.

If possible, your Sugar Land, TX dentist should be your first contact. If your emergency occurs after hours, you’ll want to go to your nearest emergency room for treatment.

But how do you know what’s a dental emergency and what’s not? Below are the situations that warrant emergency dental care.

Knocked Out Tooth

If you knock out a permanent tooth, this is a dental emergency. If you can’t put your tooth temporarily back in its socket, place it in some type of container in water or milk to keep it moist. Don’t brush the tooth or touch the roots. The sooner you get treatment, the better chance they’ll be able to save the tooth. If a baby tooth is knocked out, this isn’t a dental emergency, but you may still want to call the dentist for instructions.

Fractured or Cracked Tooth

A fractured or cracked tooth is also a dental emergency. A cracked or fractured tooth usually means you have damage inside and outside of the tooth. While a cracked tooth may not cause you pain, it can lead to nerve damage in the tooth’s root, and require emergency cracked tooth repair.

If you’re not sure if you’re experiencing a dental emergency or not, ask yourself these questions:

• Are you experiencing severe pain?
• Is your mouth bleeding?
• Is your mouth or facial area swelling?
• Is your tooth loose?
• Do you have any swelling, bulges or knots on your gums?
• Were you hit in the mouth or face?

If you answer yes to any of these, you may have a dental emergency and should seek help.

Other Dental Emergencies

Other oral emergencies that warrant immediate dental care include:

• Jaw pain
• Broken fillings
• Sore or swollen gums
• Significant sensitivity
• Infection
• Substantially discomforting toothache
• Lost crown
• Broken fillings

You need immediate treatment for any dental problem to alleviate pain, stop ongoing tissue bleeding or save your tooth. Don’t hesitate with an abscess or infection as they can be life-threatening. When in doubt give your dentist a call if you can or pay the emergency room a visit.

First Dental Family and Cosmetic Dentistry offers same-day emergency dental care. If you have a dental emergency in the Sugar Land and Missouri, TX areas, call us at (281) 494-3368.