Signs You May Need Emergency Dental Care

Not all oral health problems can wait for dental care during office hours. Your dentist should treat an emergency as soon as possible, to prevent the issue from becoming worse. How can you tell when you need emergency dental services in San Jose? Consider calling your dentist when you experience any of these problems.

You knocked out a tooth.

If your tooth is knocked out, don’t wait to seek dental care. If you get emergency dental treatment as soon as possible, your dentist may be able to reattach the tooth, preventing the need for dental implants or other tooth restorations. Furthermore, a knocked out tooth can lead to nerve damage that needs urgent treatment to prevent it from worsening. If you do knock out a tooth, try to rinse it off and gently place it back into its socket while you contact your dentist. If you can’t put it back into its place, keep the tooth in a small cup of milk or saliva until your see the dentist. Handle the tooth as little as you possibly can, and be very gentle with it to prevent further damage.

You have a dental abscess.

Dental abscesses can be extremely painful, and the pain alone causes some people to call their emergency dentists. Even if your abscess isn’t causing intense pain, it needs to be treated urgently, especially if it is draining pus. A dental abscess can quickly spread a dangerous infection throughout your body, so allow an emergency dentist to treat it right away.

You have a mouth injury.

If you suffer an injury to your mouth, such as while playing sports or during an auto accident, get it evaluated by an emergency dentist as soon as possible. Even if you don’t have outward signs of a serious injury, such as broken teeth, you could a nerve damage or damage to your jawbone that doesn’t cause immediate symptoms but that does require care. Let your dentist evaluate your injury so you don’t inadvertently delay important treatments.