Five Dental Emergencies and How We Can Help

Life is unexpected, and dental emergencies can occur at any time. When an injury or sudden trauma creates a dental emergency, it’s important to seek treatment right away. Not every injury is a dental emergency, therefore it’s important to know what qualifies so you can get adequate medical attention. Southern California General & Cosmetic Dentistry, located in Long Beach, California, Dr. Ryan J. Fait takes dental emergencies very seriously. Here are five dental emergencies that require an emergency trip to our office. 

1. Tooth fracture

In many cases, a chip in your tooth won’t require emergency dental treatment. Minor fractures can be resolved during your next regularly scheduled visit to your dentist. A tooth fracture is severe when it causes nerve damage or a large part of your tooth is broken off. These need immediate attention. 

A chipped or fractured tooth requires tooth bonding, a crown, or a root canal, depending on the location and size of the fracture. 

1. Tooth loss

A sudden injury or trauma, often related to sports or a car accident, can knock out a tooth completely. When your tooth falls out of its socket, there is also nerve and gum damage. It’s important to preserve your tooth in saliva or milk before coming in for emergency treatment. If possible, place your tooth back into the socket and hold until you’re treated. If your tooth is preserved, Dr. Fait can fit the tooth back into the socket. From there your tooth will begin to repair naturally. 

1. Oral infection

A serious oral infection is a cause for emergency care. Common infections, such as gingivitis and cold sores, require medical care but not emergency treatment. You will require emergency treatment for any infection that causes swelling around your jawline or causes difficulty breathing and swallowing. It requires emergency treatment because bacteria from the infection can travel from your mouth to tissue around your heart. This can cause severe medical issues. Dr. Fait often treats infections with antibiotic medication and in some cases surgery. 

1. Wisdom teeth

Wisdom teeth aren't always a cause for concern. If you’ve reached the age of 30 and haven’t had pain or discomfort due to your wisdom teeth, you will probably never need them removed. Yet for most people, wisdom teeth need to be removed because if you wait they can cause severe pain and infection. Wisdom tooth removal is an emergency when you begin to show symptoms of a high fever or inflamed jaw. 

1. Dental abscess 

An abscess is a pocket of pus from a bacterial infection that can occur around your tooth after an injury or due to dental decay. An abscess can produce moderate to severe pain that may extend to your ear or neck. If left untreated, an abscess can be life-threatening as it can produce high fever, facial swelling, difficulty swallowing, accelerated heart rate, and confusion. Just like with any tooth infection, Dr. Fait will provide antibiotics to treat the abscess, and perhaps perform a tooth extraction as well. 

Don’t wait to act in an emergency

Time is of the essence. If you experience a dental emergency, call our team and Dr. Fait will be there for immediate help. You can also book your appointment online.