A severe toothache, swelling of the face or jaw, a broken tooth or exposed nerve are all different types of dental emergencies. A severe toothache is usually caused by damage to the nerve (pulp) of the tooth. This is typically caused by bacteria from dental decay (cavities) but tooth pain can also be caused by other issues such as a cracked tooth or infections in the gum or bone.
Left untreated dental infections can become life-threatening. The bacteria from a dental infection can spread to other areas of the body, including the heart, which can cause endocarditis resulting in damage to the inner lining of the heart. Severe swelling in the lower jaw can cause airway obstruction and even death. Each year, thousands of people are hospitalized due to dental infections and unfortunately, some die from something that could have been prevented.
Dental Signs and Symptoms to look for:
- Toothache: An unstimulated toothache that seems to come from nowhere is not good for a number of reasons. Also, throbbing tooth pain or a sharp pain in the tooth or jaw can be an indication of tooth nerve damage or infection and requires immediate attention from a dentist.
- Swelling: If you have swelling in the face or jaw that is very serious and needs immediate attention, this is a serious dental emergency. Contact an emergency dentist for an immediate appointment. If it is after hours or the weekend when you can not see a dentist you may need to go to your local emergency room. Antibiotics are typically needed. All antibiotics are not the same and have different uses. The emergency dentist or emergency room physician will determine what the appropriate antibiotic is for your facial swelling.
- Broken or Lost Tooth: If you have a broken or lost tooth due to an injury or trauma to the face you should seek immediate emergency dental care. This can happen when playing sports like basketball, football, soccer or a number of other reasons. A professionally made dental sports mouthpiece can help prevent these costly injuries.
- Sensitivity: There are different types of tooth sensitivity.
- Sensitivity to cold that only lasts a few seconds and goes away can sometimes be caused by receding gums. Receding gums expose part of the root of the tooth which is not covered by the protective enamel layer. Sensitivity like this should be checked by your dentist but on most occasions is not a dental emergency.
- Sensitivity to hot or cold that lingers for more than a few seconds can be a sign that something worse is going on. This could indicate a deep cavity or injury to the nerve of the tooth. Contact an emergency dentist near you to have this diagnosed and treated.
- Biting sensitivity that hurts when you chew or even when your teeth come in contact with each other. This can be caused by a cracked tooth, infection or inflammation around the root of the tooth due to teeth grinding. It is very important to call an OKC dentist that can see you right away.
These are just a few different types of serious dental emergencies seen in Oklahoma City.
Urgent Dental Needs
Other less serious dental emergencies can be classified as urgent dental needs:
-The loss of a dental crown (cap) or veneer: This never seems to happen at a good time. If your crown or veneer comes off it can be a bit embarrassing and lead to sensitivity of the tooth. Do not lose or misplace the crown or veneer. You want to get the crown or veneer back on the tooth as soon as possible because the surrounding teeth can shift a bit if a crown or veneer is off of the tooth for an extended period of time. This can cause the crown or veneer not to be able to be placed back on the tooth. Sometimes there is a reason the crown or veneer came off and that will need to be addressed. If there is decay that got under the crown or veneer it may not fit properly back on the tooth and a new crown or veneer may need to be made.
-Lost or broken denture: Typically this does not cause pain or infection but can be extremely debilitating to a person’s ability to eat, talk and smile. The most common way a denture breaks is from someone dropping it when taking it in and out of the mouth to clean it. Sometimes a tooth can break or come out of a denture. Whatever the case, do not lose the denture or any broken pieces or teeth. It is not recommended to try and repair a denture yourself as that can cause more problems. Call an experienced dentist who does denture repairs. Sometimes a denture repair can be done in one day.
-Broken or lost filling: Like having a crown or veneer off a tooth a broken filling can be very sensitive. Many times when a filling breaks or comes out there is an underlying reason. Sometimes there is decay that gets under the filling, and when a person bites on the filling there is no support under the filling due to decay, and the filling breaks. Other times the filling may just be old or too big. Call an OKC dentist and let them know you have a broken or lost filling.
Whatever your dental emergency or urgent dental need, it is very important to find a dentist near you. Many dentists will see dental emergencies the same day. An immediate dental appointment is ideal as dental problems typically do not get better without treatment.
Dr. Corbyn Rhodes is a 1994 graduate of the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry. He is the owner and founder of Advances in Dentistry in Oklahoma City. Dr. Rhodes was voted Best Dentist six years in a row, and favorite Cosmetic Dentist. Dr. Rhodes has treated thousands of dental emergencies in Oklahoma City. His philosophy in treating dental emergencies in Oklahoma City is to get a person out of pain quickly, get rid of any infection, and to get his patients back to their daily life.
All content is Property of Advances in Dentistry. All Rights Reserved