What is a Dental Emergency in Richmond Tx

Oral health is nothing to ignore. Small problems can often turn into larger problems very quickly. If you start to experience pain or swelling, you may not know if you should seek emergency dental care.

Knowing when you are facing an actual dental emergency can help you save money because small problems can be fixed quickly. There are some major signs that indicate that you should seek emergency dental care right away. 

• Loose Teeth: as an adult, you should never experience loose or wiggly teeth. If you have a loose tooth, then that is an indication of a larger problem. 
• Severe Toothache: If you have a toothache that is progressively getting worse or is causing you extreme pain, then you should seek an emergency dentist right away. 
• Bleeding or Aching Gums: If you experience bleeding gums that are excessive or happen regularly, this can be an indication of early gum disease and should be treated immediately. 
• Swollen Jaw: A swollen jaw is usually an indication that there is a major infection that will spread if not treated quickly. 
• Dental Abscess: If a cavity is left untreated, it can cause infection at the root of your tooth which will be very painful and require immediate attention. 
• Constant Headaches: Headaches can come from a wide range of issues, but if you have chronic headaches, you may want to have your teeth checked for worn down enamel. 
• Numb Teeth: If you have a toothache that evolves into a numb tooth, this can mean the infection is much worse instead of better. 
• Metal Taste in Mouth: If you have a filling and your mouth starts to taste like metal, it can mean that your filling is cracked and needs attention. 

While these are all indicators of the need for emergency dental care, there are other reasons and procedures that fall under this umbrella as well. Here are some other things you should know about emergency dental care to ensure that you are prepared. 

Emergency Oral Surgery

Some issues you experience may require emergency oral surgery to relieve the pain and correct the issue. Excessive tooth pain may require surgery to correct the issue. Ignoring tooth pain until it starts to disappear can mean long-term damage to the nerves in your teeth that cannot be repaired. Sometimes you may experience complications from oral surgery. It is important to stay in contact with your dentist and talk to them if you experience any pain, swelling, bad odors, or excessive bleeding. Dental implants are another area of dental surgery that may have complications. If you have an implant that is causing you pain or that has fallen out, you should seek immediate help. Other problems with implants like swelling, loosening, or pain are more indicators that there is a major problem that needs resolving. 

Jaw Pain

Jaw pain can occur because of many issues. If you recently had surgery, inflammation during the healing process is normal and may cause some jaw pain.  Jaw pain can also be caused by wisdom teeth that are starting to come through the jawline. While this may be normal and pass with time, it is a good idea to talk to your dentist to make sure they are coming through in a healthy way and are not going to cause problems with your other teeth. 

Emergency Root Canal

If you are dealing with unbearable tooth pain, then you may be in need of an emergency root canal. A damaged tooth that has been damaged all the way down to the pulp chamber found on the innermost part of the tooth will form an infection that is very painful. Things like tooth decay, an infection, or trauma from an accident can all lead to this issue. During an emergency root canal, the dentist flushes out the pulp of the tooth to remove any infected material. Once the tooth is disinfected, it is sealed to prevent it from happening again. The procedure usually takes between one and two hours and the tooth is numbed before the procedure starts. 

Emergency Swelling

Dental swelling is usually a very serious indication of a deeper problem. Things like infection or decay often manifest with swelling. If you notice any kind of swelling at all, it is best to seek immediate attention before the infection or decay spreads. Abscesses can be drained and removed before they cause more damage and pain. 

Emergency Jaw Fracture

A broken jaw can cause problems with your breathing and eating, so you should not put off getting it taken care of as soon as possible. The main cause of a broken or fractured jaw is facial trauma. This can happen in a lot of ways, but common reasons are physical assault, sports injury, vehicle accidents, falls, and workplace accidents. Pain, bleeding, and swelling are the main indicators that your jaw may be broken. You may also experience breathing difficulties, stiffness in the jaw, discomfort when chewing, bruising, numbness, or loose teeth. You may notice that your face appears lumpy. The treatment required for a broken jaw depends on the severity of the break. It may require surgery if the break is severe. Either way, your jaw will need to be wired shut during the recovery process. During this process, your doctor may prescribe IV antibiotics in order to help you prevent infection. You should be sure to follow all instructions for medication to make sure that the healing process goes smoothly. 

Broken Tooth

A broken tooth knocked out teeth, or a cracked tooth are all serious issues that should not be ignored or put off for later. They may need to be extracted if they are not able to be recovered. For a chipped or broken tooth, your dentist may be able to repair the damage with a filling. Bonding can be used if the tooth is visible to make the repair not noticeable. In the case of a knocked-out tooth, the dentist may be able to reattach it if you get to them in time. Splinting the tooth with the ones beside it can attach it and keep it in place while it heals. They will numb your mouth while they reattach. 

Gum Infection

If gum infections are not treated, they can spread and cause more problems. These problems won’t just be limited to your oral health, but can even spread to other parts of your body. If you suspect gum infection, then you need to seek emergency dental help to stop it before it spreads. 

Odors

If you notice that you have persistent bad breath, even with proper dental hygiene, then this may be an indicator of a more serious issue. A bad odor in your mouth can indicate the decay of some part of your tooth or an infection that is otherwise hidden. Talking to your dentist about possible causes and treatments is important to catch problems before they spiral out of control. 

Tooth Extraction

Sometimes a tooth is so damaged that it cannot be saved with these other procedures. If this is the case, then the tooth will need to be extracted. If the tooth is visible, then the dentist may simply grasp it with forceps and pull it out with a simple extraction. Anesthesia is administered so the procedure is not painful. If a simple extraction is not possible, then surgery may be necessary. If the tooth is not visible or cannot be easily accessed, then surgery may be needed. This can happen if the tooth is broken below the gum line or if it has not yet come through the gum line.  Reasons for tooth extraction can vary and will depend on the level of damage and health of the tooth. The most likely reason is a traumatic event that has left the tooth damaged. During a car accident, a fall, or a blow to the face, your teeth can be damaged. Your tooth can either be loosened or broken. Sometimes these issues can be corrected, but extraction will be necessary if the damage is too severe. A tooth is impacted if it cannot grow through the gum line as expected. Gums may not allow the tooth to pass or something else could be blocking the tooth. These teeth may need to be removed so they do not start to negatively affect the other teeth near them. Some people experience issues with their wisdom teeth. They may experience wisdom tooth pain or the teeth may be coming in crooked and pushing the other teeth out of place. Wisdom tooth extraction is a common procedure that can help alleviate pain and keep your teeth looking amazing. Periodontal disease can also be a reason that a tooth extraction is needed. Periodontal disease weakens the structures that hold your teeth in place. Usually, this occurs in the gums or the socked. If the infection becomes so great that it cannot be reversed, the teeth may need to be extracted. Tooth decay in extreme cases can also require a tooth extraction. If the infected tooth cannot be saved with a root canal, then it may need to be removed in order to keep the infection from spreading to other teeth. 

Finding an Emergency Dentist

It is important to plan ahead for urgent dental care. Finding a walk-in emergency dentist in Richmond, TX, does not have to be a complicated process. Start by looking in your specific area. It is important that you be able to get to them within 30 minutes in case of an emergency. Before you decide on a dentist, you need to have all the important information. You need to know what hours they are open. If you are concerned about an emergency happening in the evenings or on the weekends, then you need a dentist with hours that accommodate that. You should also make sure to find a dentist who will offer the services that you may need. It makes the most sense to find a dentist who can handle all the procedures instead of having to shuttle around from dentist to dentist. If you are finding a dentist for the family, then you should find out what ages they treat to make sure the whole family can see the same person. Most of all, you want to make sure you feel comfortable with the dentist and at the office. The need for emergency dental procedures comes with a lot of pain and stress and anxiety. Helping to alleviate some of that by finding a dentist who makes you feel comfortable is a luxury you cannot replace with anything else. So Give Grand Parkway Smiles a call at 8322220016 we are here to help in emergency situations.