Dental emergencies are when oral pain or injury is so severe that you cannot wait to see your dentist. If you ever face such a situation then it is important to not delay seeking emergency dental treatment.

Here are three reasons to contact an emergency dentist without delay.

1. Broken, Chipped, or Knocked-Out Tooth

There are three reasons why you should not delay calling an emergency dentist when faced with broken, chipped, or knock-out tooth (or teeth). A broken or knocked-out tooth can cause pain and bleeding. You also risk losing the tooth if the treatment is delayed. You won’t be able to eat or speak properly until the tooth is set or you receive some sort of treatment for it.

It is best to call the office of the emergency dentist than to wonder what to do with a broken, chipped, or knocked-out tooth. The dentist or the support staff will be able to guide you about the next steps to take. For instance, your emergency dentist may recommend soaking the knocked-out tooth in milk and bring it to the clinic. Such helpful measures may work to save your natural tooth. The dentist may also provide you with instructions to stop the bleeding using wet gauze before visiting the clinic.

You can conduct a quick online search to find an emergency dentist if you don’t already know one. Use search keywords such as emergency dentist McLean (your requirement with your location) to find websites of dentists offering emergency services in your area. Once you find a good emergency dentist, it is best to keep his or her contact details stored safely with you.

2. Lost Crown or Filling

Lost crown or filling may not seem like a dental emergency – not until you experience any pain at least. But it is not a good idea to delay seeing an emergency dentist even if you do not have any pain due to lost crown or filling. You could risk damaging the tooth further if you delay the treatment. If you lost the crown due to an injury or accident, it is best to call the office of an emergency dentist to know about the next steps to take.

3. Severe Tooth Pain

Ignoring dental pain is never a good idea. But if the pain is quite severe, it is best to see an emergency dentist to find out the source of the problem than to risk further damage to your gums or dental cavity.

Something stuck between teeth –

You can experience dental pain if something gets stuck between the gaps in your teeth. If you are not able to dislodge the stuck food particle easily, the pain might continue to persist. You can even experience bleeding and risk damaging the tooth if you try to aggressively remove it. It is best to seek the help of an emergency dentist in such cases.

Bitten tongue or lips –

You can experience severe pain and bleeding if you accidentally bite your lips or tongue. Such incidents can happen very easily while playing contact sports. Delayed treatment can also cause infections. You can try and stop the bleeding by applying pressure on the area with wet gauze. But if the bleeding still persists then it is best to see an emergency dentist for further help.

Abscessed tooth –

An abscessed tooth indicates an infection in the dental cavity. The pain from an abscessed tooth can be extremely excruciating. It can also interfere with your chewing abilities and speech. You may even require immediate treatment to stop the infection from spreading further. Your emergency dentist might need to perform a root canal procedure to treat the infection.

Swelling inside the oral cavity –

If your jaw, gums, or mouth suddenly swell; it can be indicative of an infection or other problems. A swollen jaw can also occur due to injuries. Swelling can cause unbearable pain, and even impede with your chewing and speech. It is important to see an emergency dentist to diagnose and treat the problem without delay.

Exposed or damaged nerves –

Nerves inside the mouth can become painful due to a number of reasons. To prevent extensive damage, it is important to see an emergency dentist immediately.