When Should You Seek An Emergency Dental Appointment?

It is reasonably common for people to book an appointment with their dentist on an emergency basis even though they do not really need a quick fix. Some patients want to see their dentist on an emergency basis because a tooth is starting to look discoloured or their dentures a slipping a little. These are not sound reasons for seeking an appointment at short notice. In fact, the majority of dental appointments can be made a few weeks in advance. That said, there are certainly occasions when emergency dentistry will be required. Read on to find out the circumstances when an emergency dentist appointment is really a requirement.

Knocked-Out Teeth

To begin with, if you have a tooth which has been knocked out, then this is a genuine time to seek emergency treatment. If you leave it too long before seeing an emergency dentist, then you may find that the tooth cannot be restored in your mouth. The more delicate you are with the tooth that has been traumatised the better. Wrap it up in a damp cloth or place it back in its socket if possible. This will mean that your dentist has a higher chance of permanently replacing it for you even if more than a few hours pass. Needless to say, speed is of the essence, so you should see your dentist at the earliest opportunity.

Oral Abscesses

If you have an abscess in your mouth, then you do not necessarily need to see a dental practitioner straight away. However, if the abscess has grown quickly or it feels that it might burst soon when you gently run your tongue over it, then you should not hang around and should seek an emergency appointment. Abscesses can indicate that there is a serious issue so you should not unduly delay obtaining a booking.

Unbearable Toothache

When you have a toothache, it is not necessarily an immediate reason to seek emergency dentistry. Under most circumstances, you can control toothache with over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol tablets, for instance. However, in more severe cases, the pain from a damaged or rotten tooth can become unbearable. If this is the case, then book an emergency appointment with your dentist so that they can pull the tooth if necessary. You may need to return after your initial consultation to fully resolve the issue but an emergency appointment should at least mean that the pain begins to subside.


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