Most of us have experienced it at some point; the tooth pain, the worry, the questions. Do you rush to an emergency dentist in Lexington, KY, or do you wait it out?
Luckily, dental emergencies aren’t as stressful when you learn more about the signs and symptoms that alert you when something isn’t quite right with your dental health. This way you’ll know exactly when to see a 24/7 dentist in Lexington instead of waiting too long.
Read on to learn about the key signs and symptoms that will direct you toward urgent dental services in Lexington, KY.
Severe Tooth Pain
Severe and unbearable tooth pain that doesn’t resolve with home remedies and over-the-counter medications is considered a dental emergency. This is because severe toothaches are usually the result of issues like an infection or severe cavities that require dental treatment.
In addition, having a cracked or chipped tooth from teeth grinding, gum disease, or a damaged crown or filling can also cause severe tooth pain. Sometimes these chips can be quite small and difficult to detect initially.
You can experience different types of pain and other specific symptoms depending on the cause, which include:
- Sharp tooth pain
- Throbbing tooth pain
- Gum swelling
- Tooth sensitivity
- Bad breath
- Headaches
- Chills
- Fever
So, if you have severe tooth pain, don’t wait to see the dentist as waiting could cause an infection to spread to other parts of your body. Call your dentist right away so they can perform a complete examination including X-rays and review your symptoms.
Tooth Trauma
Most types of mouth trauma that result in chipped, loosened, broken, or knocked-out teeth require immediate dental treatment. They’re also considered some of the most urgent dental problems you can have.
A fractured tooth can occur when eating hard or crunchy foods, or from an injury, and as long as the crack is in one place, a dentist can typically correct the problem with a filling or root canal.
Injuries that loosen a tooth from its socket also require immediate dental attention since the injury typically damages the root or socket as well. The root and socket act as anchors and if left untreated, injuries can cause permanent damage to the tooth, or even complete tooth loss.
Knocked-out teeth involve any permanent or baby tooth that is knocked out due to a traumatic event. If you experience this, you’ll need to put your tooth back in the socket without touching the roots, if possible.
You can gently rinse the tooth under cold water for five to ten seconds before attempting to replace it. Be careful not to scrub the tooth as it can damage the root tissue needed to reattach the tooth.
If you can’t replace the tooth in the socket, wrap it in a damp paper towel or place it inside a glass of milk before seeing the dentist.
Tooth Abscess and Severe Swelling
Having an abscess or severe swelling around your tooth is a big sign that you need emergency dental care as soon as possible.
A tooth abscess is a pus pocket that results from a serious bacterial infection. Abscesses can occur in various areas of the tooth like in the gums at the side or base of the tooth.
You’ll typically get an abscess due to untreated cavities, previous dental work, or injuries to the mouth. Once you develop an infection, it can lead to inflammation and swelling, which ultimately develops into an abscess.
The most common signs and symptoms of a dental abscess include:
- Pain with cold and hot temperatures
- Pain and pressure while chewing
- Severe throbbing toothache that can spread to your jawbone and ear
- Swollen lymph nodes under the jaw
- Foul mouth odor
- A rush of foul-tasting and smelling fluid
- Fever
Your dentist will usually need to drain the abscess to get rid of the infection, but in some cases, you may need other treatments like a root canal. You’ll also need to take a course of antibiotics.
Persistent Bleeding
While it’s not uncommon to experience temporary bleeding with brushing and flossing, severe and persistent bleeding is not normal and needs to be assessed immediately. In addition, bleeding can occur for other reasons such as trauma to the mouth or chronic health conditions like diabetes.
First, bleeding gums can be a sign of gum disease. Early gum disease, known as gingivitis, can cause mild swelling and general inflammation of the gums. This irritation is due to plaque building up at the gumline, but the bleeding shouldn’t be persistent.
While you can reverse early gum disease with regular brushing, flossing, and dental visits, advanced gum disease or periodontitis can lead to long-term damage to the teeth, gums, and jawbone. It can also cause your gums to bleed easily, especially if you have a severe infection.
Chronic health conditions like diabetes cause high sugar levels which makes it more difficult for your body to heal. If you have gum disease and diabetes, it can make symptoms like bleeding worse. Other conditions like thrombocytopenia cause your body to not make enough platelets which prevents the blood from clotting and leads to excessive bleeding.
Overall, if you have persistent bleeding from your teeth or gums, you should see your dentist immediately for a thorough examination to figure out the root cause.
Don’t Put Off Finding an Emergency Dentist in Lexington, KY
Your next step is finding an emergency dentist in Lexington, KY that you’ll feel comfortable with.
The good news is all you need to do is turn to the Alumni Dental Center for all your Lexington, KY dental emergencies and dental health needs. Our goal is to be your number one dental health destination, and we take pride in improving you and your family’s overall health.
Our services include extractions, fillings, crowns, root canals, bridges, implants, and more. We also offer sedation options if you’re anxious or fearful about the dentist along with advanced technology like Opalescence Whitening Systems and digital x-rays.
Make sure to contact us today to schedule an appointment and get your dental health on the right track!
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