What qualifies as a dental emergency?

A dental emergency is any oral health issue that requires immediate care to stop bleeding, relieve severe pain, or prevent infection and further damage. Common dental emergencies include uncontrolled bleeding, pain that does not improve with medication, and injuries involving the teeth, mouth, or face.

If you believe you are experiencing a dental emergency, the first step is to call your dentist right away. Many dental offices provide after-hours emergency numbers to help guide you when urgent care is needed.

Dental Emergencies

Seeking emergency dental care will help alleviate pain, prevent infection, and avoid more extensive treatment down the line. Dental emergencies include:

• A cracked tooth

• A knocked-out tooth

• A severe and persistent toothache

• A dental abscess on the gums, face, or jaw

Some dental emergencies, such as broken teeth or knocked-out teeth, can be resolved in the dentist’s office. For serious facial injuries like broken bones, it is best to go to the emergency room at the hospital.

Emergency room doctors can offer medications to ease the pain and swelling, but they cannot perform restorative treatments, so you should still see your dentist when you are able.

Non-Emergency Dental Issues

Some situations can wait until regular business hours to be resolved, but should still be resolved as soon as possible. These include:

• Broken braces

• Mild toothache

• Small chip or crack in the tooth

Other symptoms to keep an eye on are:

• Teeth that feel loose

• Signs of infection

• Bleeding gums

Experiencing a Dental Emergency?

If you’re experiencing severe pain, swelling, or dental trauma, contact Hale Family Dentistry today. Our team is here to help you manage dental emergencies and get you back to a healthy, comfortable smile as quickly as possible.