Good planning is a cornerstone of a life well-lived, but not everything can be planned. Accidents, for example, are also a part of life, and the extent to which a dental accident is no longer an inconvenience and becomes a bonafide emergency depends on several factors. In addition, some people in Aurora, CO, might not be sure if a tooth problem is an actual need for urgent care, so at Uptown Comprehensive Dentistry and Prosthodontics, let us offer some guidelines to help you decide.
How Badly Does It Hurt?
Your body has its ways of communicating with you. Your stomach growling is your body saying, “I need some food.” You yawn; translation: “I need some sleep.” Pain, on the other hand, is your body’s way of saying, “We have a problem.” How badly that pain hurts is your body either whispering or yelling loudly. So if you’re suffering intense pain, you should take immediate action by calling our office.
What Causes a Dental Emergency?
When you have a toothache or other dental pain, you may also be suffering from the following:
- A tooth abscess or infection
- A fractured tooth or crown
- Extreme sensitivity to hot or cold
- A knocked-out or avulsed tooth
If you have a tooth infection, the sooner you seek treatment may head off future dental problems. But if you ignore an infection, it will likely worsen, creating damage that can spread down as deep as your jawbone. Where you have a broken tooth or dental crown, you may also have an exposed nerve resulting in unbearable pain. This condition will certainly not fix itself, so you’ll want to seek urgent care.
A Knocked-Out Tooth Is Always an Emergency
One situation that nearly always requires emergency dental care is an avulsed tooth. We recommend you treat this as an emergency because prompt action may preserve the tooth and prevent up to thousands of dollars worth of restorative dental work.
If you have knocked out one of your permanent teeth, take these immediate measures:
- Hold the tooth only by the crown. Don’t handle it at the root.
- Clean it gently with warm water.
- If you can replace the tooth in its socket, do so and hold it in place with gauze.
- If you can’t replace it, keep the tooth submerged in a container with milk or your saliva.
- Call our office without delay.
Emergency Dentistry in Aurora, CO
So, in cases of dental pain, inflammation, or other possible need for urgent dental care, call our office to help you decide what course to take. We are here to relieve your pain and prevent any further damage to your smile.