Sometimes dental issues arise that can wait a few days before receiving dental care. In other cases, your symptoms and discomfort may call for a same-day urgent care appointment.
But how do you know if your dental problem requires urgent care? Tooth emergencies can cause pain and discomfort; left untreated, your symptoms might intensify. Mehrnoosh Darj, DDS, and her team at Dr. Darj Dental encourage you to visit us if you experience a dental emergency.
In the meantime, you can learn about five dental emergencies you shouldn't ignore — and how we can help you feel better fast with our urgent care services.
If you cracked or fractured your tooth, it’s more than a cosmetic issue. The crack can expose your tooth roots as well as allow bacteria to enter your tooth.
We can repair cracked teeth by reattaching the broken piece of enamel through dental bonding or with the placement of a crown. Regardless of which solution works best for you, swift treatment can alleviate your pain while protecting your tooth from infection or tooth loss.
Tip: To prevent cracked teeth, refrain from chewing on non-food items like pen caps or ice.
You might recognize an avulsed tooth by another name: a knocked-out tooth. Avulsed teeth require immediate care, ideally within 30 minutes of the incident, to give your tooth its best shot at reattaching.
After your tooth is knocked out, keep it moist. You can place it back in your tooth socket, in your mouth next to your cheek, in a tooth saver product (sometimes found in a first aid kit), or in a small container of milk. Be careful not to touch the tooth roots.
Tip: Always wear a mouthguard when playing sports, as these can help prevent mouth injuries.
There are many reasons why your tooth might hurt. Common causes of toothaches include:
Sometimes a toothache is a nagging pain, and sometimes it's debilitating. Your treatment depends on what’s causing your pain. For example, a cavity is generally treated with a filling, while an infection requires another course of action.
Before you arrive at your appointment, you can gargle with salt water and place a cold compress on your face on the side where your tooth aches.
Getting something caught between your teeth or in your gums might seem like an inconvenience, but it can lead to a host of unwanted issues. The debris can irritate your gums or increase your risk of infection.
The American Dental Association recommends that you try to remove the foreign object with floss but never anything sharp or pointy. If the floss isn’t effective, it’s time to head to the dentist. We can remove the foreign object before it becomes a breeding ground for bacteria.
If you see a pimple-like growth on your gums, you might be dealing with an abscess. This little bump is filled with pus and indicates that you’ve got a bacterial infection.
You might also run a fever, notice swelling on your face or in your lymph nodes, and have intense pain that radiates from your mouth to your jaw and neck. Dr. Darj may need to perform a root canal to save your tooth.
Here at Dr. Darj Dental, we know that tooth emergencies can cause debilitating pain, which is why we reserve time each day for same-day urgent care visits.
If you’re in pain and need dental care, call our El Paso, Texas, practice to schedule a same-day appointment. We’re available at 915-213-4097 or via our online appointment tool.
