Top 5 Reasons to Seek Emergency Dental Care

Whether you lost a tooth in a sports accident or you're suffering from terrible pain in your mouth, an emergency dental appointment may be just what you need. In such instances, Dr. Robert Scott Nance and his team of dental specialists in Statesville and Hickory, NC, are ready to help. 

Emergency care — when do you need it?

When it comes to your teeth, any minor ache or pain may seem like an emergency. However, some dental issues can wait, while others require you to seek immediate care. Here are five reasons that you may need to make an emergency dental appointment at our office.

1. Broken or lost tooth 

If you find yourself with a cracked or broken tooth that’s causing you a lot of pain, it's best to get emergency care as soon as possible to prevent further problems. If the tooth is knocked out completely, you should first try to put the tooth back in your mouth and hold it in place with a clean cloth; if that’s not possible, put the tooth in milk or your saliva and contact our office.

2. Severe toothache 

Sometimes pain in your teeth or mouth is annoying but bearable. However, if the dental pain keeps you up at night or makes it impossible to eat, it's time for an emergency visit. Also, consider an emergency visit if the toothache is accompanied by a fever that can't be controlled with painkillers or swelling that you can't manage.

3. Facial swelling 

If your tooth becomes infected, you may experience facial swelling due to an abscess in your tooth. If the swelling extends to your neck or eyes, you should seek immediate care to ensure your infection is treated quickly.

4. Dental trauma with bleeding 

Any kind of trauma to your mouth that induces bleeding, whether it's from your gums or lips, should be addressed as soon as possible. This is especially true if the bleeding doesn't stop with constant pressure on the area of injury.

5. Bleeding after getting a tooth pulled 

It's normal for the socket in your mouth to ooze a little bit of blood after you have a tooth pulled. But if you're having trouble controlling the bleeding after holding pressure on the spot for about 20 minutes, it constitutes an emergency trip to our office.

In some instances, you need to go to the emergency room instead of the dentist. If you experience dental trauma that includes a loss of consciousness, vomiting, or vision changes, head to the ER right away. Also, go to the ER if facial swelling interferes with your normal breathing or causes problems with your vision.

If you find yourself needing an emergency dental visit, call 704-246-3449 or the Hickory office at 828-232-8811.