Are you experiencing a dental emergency? You may be wondering exactly what constitutes a dental emergency. Simply put, an emergency is any situation that needs immediate attention and cannot wait until the next day.
**If you are experiencing a life threatening emergency, you should call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.**
Here are some examples of emergent situations that should prompt you to call your dentist immediately during or after business hours.
Severe Tooth Pain
If you have a toothache that is too painful to manage with over the counter pain medication, you should call your dentist. Severe tooth pain can indicate a number of problems from a deep cavity to an infected tooth. There could also be a crack in your tooth that you can’t see. Whenever the inner pulp of a tooth is exposed, the nerves are very sensitive.
Severe Gum Pain
Pain in your gums that is more than just a mild sore spot should be addressed right away. Severe gum pain can mean that the gums are infected. When gum disease progresses it can lead to an abcess. The infection can also enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body. Gum pain should be treated as soon as possible.
Cracked Tooth
A crack in a tooth can be minor or severe, depending on the depth. The sooner you see your dentist to have it repaired, the more likely your tooth can be saved.
Loose Tooth
If a tooth is suddenly loose (not a baby tooth), it is considered an emergency. It may be able to wait until the next day, but you should still contact your dentist right away. Teeth become loose due to a variety of reasons from blunt trauma to bone loss from gum disease.
Loose Dental Crown or Implant
If you have a crown or a dental implant that comes loose, contact your dentist immediately, especially if you are experiencing pain. A crown would need to be cemented back into place. In the case of a dental implant, if only the crown portion is loose it can be easily reattached. But if the implant root is loose from the jaw bone, it may need a more extensive procedure.
Displaced Tooth from Trauma
In the event that a tooth is knocked out, the first thing to do is pick it up by the crown without touching the root, rinse it off, and put it in milk or water. Call your dentist or have someone call on your behalf. It is important that you be seen within a hour to increase the chances of retaining the tooth.
Displaced Dental Crown or Implant
If a crown comes off it can usually wait until the next day unless it causes you severe pain. But if a dental implant comes out, you should contact your dentist immediately. It may be able to be put back into place if it is addressed as soon as possible.
Displaced Filling
Sometimes a filling will come out or off of a tooth. If this happens and you have severe pain, call your dentist. If it is not painful it can probably wait until the following day to be refilled.
Have a Dental Emergency? Contact Hamden Dental Arts Immediately
If you or a family member have a dental emergency, call 203-248-7400 immediately to reach Hamden Dental Arts. If it is during business hours we will do our best to see you right away. If it is after hours, listen carefully to the instructions given and leave a message. Someone will return your call as soon as possible. Hamden Dental Arts takes dental emergencies very seriously and will do our best to help you in a timely manner.
If the emergency is life threatening, please call 911 or proceed to the nearest emergency room.