Have you ever injured your fingers while chopping vegetables? or Have you ever hurt yourself while changing your car tyre? If yes, then you would be aware of the type of medical emergencies and how to respond to them.
But have you ever faced a dental emergency? Well, many people remain unaware of dental emergencies throughout their life. Most of the times, these are the same people who never visit a dentist for regular check-ups. They can rightly be considered as ‘lucky’, as despite ignoring oral health, they don’t encounter any requirement to visit a dentist.
However, emergency dental needs have become a more common scenario in today’s time due to the change in eating and other habits. Natural foods like apple and sugarcane that prove to be healthy for the teeth are eaten less, whereas processed foods like sugar candies and coloured baked treats that prove to be unhealthy for the teeth are eaten more.
On top of it, people develop harmful habits, such as smoking and drinking. All these habits can lead to deterioration in the condition and appearance of your teeth. Unlike people in earlier times, you might be susceptible to injuries that can result in dental emergencies.
While needs for cosmetic dentistry Sydney can wait, needs for emergency dental care cannot wait. You need to visit a dental facility immediately to avoid ending up with complications. Considering the present lifestyle, you can face a dental emergency, even if you go for regular dental visits.
What can be Termed as a “Dental Emergency”?
You must know what counts as a ‘dental emergency’ to take the necessary steps whenever you or someone else encounters one. We have listed down common problems that require urgent dental treatment and care.
- Broken or fallen off tooth
More often than not, people lose a tooth in unfortunate incidents, such as an accident or a sports injury. If one or more of your teeth fall off due to any such incident, you should visit a dental clinic or hospital as soon as possible. A dentist can re-attach your tooth by using the right treatment procedure.
- Pain in a tooth or teeth
Toothache can occur to people of all ages irrespective of the condition of their teeth. Many reasons can cause pain in the teeth. Gum infections, tooth decay, damaged filling, and tooth fracture are some of the reasons for a toothache. If the pain is unbearable and constant, you should seek the professional help straightaway.
- Discharges in the mouth
Blood and pus in any area of the mouth are dangerous as it can be a sign of a serious underlying issue. Vigorous brushing, mouth sores, or gum disease can be the culprit behind bleeding. Pus or gum abscess can happen due to bacteria, periodontitis, or tartar build-up.
- Lost or loosened crown
A dental crown is a dental restoration used in the treatment of patients who lose their natural teeth. Though dental crowns can last for five to fifteen years, they might get lost, broken, or loosened. If your dental crown falls off, you need to visit the cosmetic dentist who placed it in your mouth.
It’s important to mention here that along with the emergency situations mentioned above, certain other situations can also be classified as dental emergencies. If you are not able to decide properly whether an urgent dental visit is the best option in a particular scenario or not, you should pay attention to some points, such as duration of pain, intensity of pain, and chances of recovery.
In simple words, if you experience severe pain and discomfort, you should not delay in seeing a dentist. If your natural tooth or an artificial tooth has broken or fallen off, you should reach the nearest dental facility immediately, as a delay can render the tooth or restorative dental devices useless.
Conclusion
Poor oral habits and negligence towards dental health can lead to disastrous outcomes, including but not limited to decay in the teeth, infections in gums, discolouration of teeth, and chipping of artificial teeth. You might have to visit a dentist on an urgent basis owing to one of more problems. Though not all dental emergencies are a result of the condition of your teeth or gums, you should not ignore it.
