Most of us will experience a dental emergency at some point, even with proper oral health care. It may not always be easy to decide how urgent your situation is, but you know your oral health and when something isn't right.
That said, there are degrees of dental emergencies. Some situations require immediate treatment, while others that don't involve pain may safely wait a day or two.
How do you tell which is which? Always call your emergency dentist in Tampa first so they can evaluate your symptoms, provide reassurance, and tell you what steps to take.
Dental Emergencies to Treat Right away
Call your dentist immediately if you experience:
- Severe Toothache: Tooth pain that prevents you from functioning is a critical emergency and a sign of a deep cavity or a dental abscess that requires immediate treatment.
- Knocked-out (avulsed) tooth: Your dentist needs to see you within an hour to try to save the tooth. Hold it by the chewing surface only and try to reinsert it gently in the socket or hold it in your cheek pocket to keep it moist.
- Swollen jaw: This indicates an infection that needs to be treated immediately, especially if it's accompanied by severe pain, fever, or a bad taste in the mouth.
- Dental abscess: Look for symptoms of a dental abscess such as severe pain, swollen glands, fever, pus, or a foul taste in the mouth.
- Cracked or broken tooth: A small chip isn't a problem, but your dentist needs to treat a broken or cracked tooth as soon as possible.
- Loose tooth: A loose adult tooth is not normal and could indicate an infection.
Dental Emergencies to Treat as Soon as Possible
The following emergencies should be addressed as soon as possible, but you may be able to wait a day until you can break from your schedule. Always call your Tampa dentist first to explain your symptoms and get advice on how to proceed.
- Mild tooth pain
- Chipped tooth
- Lost dental crown
- Lost tooth filling
- Bleeding gums
Have a Dental Emergency? Call Us Now!
If you have a dental emergency, instead of searching for a dentist near me, call the team at Carrollwood Village Dental, or contact us online and let us know what's happening. We will get you out of pain quickly, stabilize your situation, and provide treatment as soon as possible.
