3 Signs That You Require Emergency Dental Care
If you've ever dealt with a dental emergency, you know the angst that comes with deciding between waiting it out and finding a 24-hour dentist in your area. While not all dental issues that occur in the middle of the night or during the weekend need to be dealt with immediately, some do require urgent care. Below are three signs that you need to receive urgent dental care.
1. Excessive Bleeding
If you've been in an accident involving your teeth, you may think that waiting an extra day won't hurt. While this may be true, it's always a good idea to call your dentist's emergency number, or call a 24-hour dentist in the area.
One of the things that a dentist will consider when deciding whether urgent care is needed is bleeding. Bleeding isn't uncommon after losing a tooth or other dental injuries, but excessive bleeding should be investigated immediately. There may be a deeper cut than first thought which can easily become infected. Excessive bleeding can also lead to weakness, fainting, and other adverse health effects.
2. Extreme Pain
Pain can be a subjective indicator, but one that dentists and all other medical professionals take into consideration when first evaluating a patient's case.
If you're dealing with pain that makes it impossible to talk, eat, and even sleep, then there's no need to wait any longer for care. Visiting a 24-hour dentist can ease your pain until further treatment is performed.
3. Swelling
Swelling means different things for different parts of the body. While swelling can indicate general irritation or injury, swelling in the mouth can be an indicator of a much more serious issue.
Dental swelling, sometimes referred to as an abscess, is related to a bacterial infection. If left untreated, this infection can spread to other parts of the body, such as your brain, which can be deadly. While lethal infections are rare, there are many other consequences of an untreated bacterial infection, including pain, nerve damage, and general illness. It's possible for infections to go unnoticed until one feels pain, so if an infection is suspected, it's important to be seen right away as you may not always know how long it's been there and where it's already spread.
While many people prefer to wait for their dentist's office to open in the morning before calling and making an appointment, there are certain situations which warrant an emergency visit. If your dentist doesn't offer emergency services and there's no 24-hour dentist in the area, the next best thing is to visit an emergency room, especially if there is excessive bleeding, extreme pain, or a suspected infection.
To learn more, contact a 24-hour dentist like Hernandez Dental.