Did you know that 120 million people in the United States are missing at least one tooth?

Did you also know that tooth loss can be prevented by seeking prompt treatment when you have a dental emergency?

What is a dental emergency and how do you know if you have one? Keep reading for the top signs you need emergency dentistry that could help save your teeth. 

You're in Pain

Anytime you're in pain, you should see a doctor. This includes oral pain.

Pain in your gums, teeth, jaw, etc. is not normal and should be taken seriously. Pain is considered a dental emergency.

If any part of your mouth hurts, it's time to call the dentist. 

You Have a Loose Tooth or Missing Tooth

Losing a tooth is scary, but common. If your tooth falls out, gets knocked out, or is loose, you're experiencing a dental emergency.

The faster you get to the dentist, the more likely your tooth can be saved. An emergency dentist may be able to replant your lost tooth.

When you call the dentist, be sure to tell them what happened. They may be able to help you preserve the tooth on your way to the office.

If your tooth is loose, your dentist may be able to prevent it from falling out altogether. 

You're Bleeding

Bleeding from the mouth or gums is a serious concern.

If you are experiencing bleeding after brushing or flossing your teeth, you may have gum disease or gingivitis. This can also cause gums to ache, swell, and even smell.

Gum disease should be treated early. If you wait too long to get treatment, it might not be possible to restore your teeth to a healthy state.

Bleeding gums can also be a sign of cancer. 

You Have Swelling

If you are experiencing swelling in or around your mouth, you need an emergency dentist.

Swelling is a sign of infection and infections in your mouth can become life-threatening. You may notice swelling in your gums but also your face or lymph nodes.

Dental infections are dangerous because bacteria can easily enter your bloodstream and spread to other parts of your body. Keep an eye out for other signs of infection like fever and call the dentist right away. 

Your Jaw is Popping

If your jaw is popping, locked, or painful, you may need emergency dental care.

People sometimes forget that your jaw plays an important role in oral health and jaw problems can be treated by your dentist. A healthy jaw slides back and forth with no catching.

If your jaw seems to get stuck, doesn't move right, causes pain, or makes a clicking or grinding noise, you may have a problem with your temporomandibular joint. This is commonly known as TMJ or TMD. 

Your Taste Metal

If you have a metallic taste in your mouth, you may have a dental emergency.

Nowadays, when you get a filling, composite is used to match your natural tooth. Before this became common practice, fillings were made of amalgam, which contains metal.

If you have one of these fillings and are tasting metal, your filling could be loose or cracked. This is a dental emergency because your tooth will be more likely to develop a cavity or infection.

Seeking emergency dental care can reduce your chances of needing a root canal. 

Your Tooth is Cracked 

If you have a cracked or broken tooth, you need emergency dentistry.

How your dentist will treat this tooth depends on where the crack is located and how bad it is. Your emergency dentist will do everything they can to save your tooth.

You can increase your chances of saving your tooth by seeking prompt emergency dental care. Your dentist will want to know how and when the tooth was injured. 

You Have a Toothache 

A toothache is one of the biggest signs that you need dental services.

You never want to ignore tooth pain, hoping it will go away. If your toothache is severe and the pain is consistent, there is likely something wrong. The quicker you get to the dentist, the better the outcome.

Plus, you don't want to suffer from a severe toothache when you don't need to. An emergency dentist will evaluate your tooth and create a treatment plan.

Ignoring the problem can lead to things getting worse and leave you with debilitating pain. 

You Have a Growth

If you have a sore or growth in your mouth that doesn't go away, it's time to seek emergency dental care.

This growth could be cancerous. 54,000 Americans were diagnosed with oral cancer in 2022.

Emergency dentists can perform a visual exam to identify oral cancer and use more advanced diagnostic tools that can tell them more than the naked eye.

You never want to mess around with any kind of cancer, so getting checked out as soon as possible is important. 

Your Tooth is Numb

If your tooth has been hurting and suddenly goes numb, this may be a dental emergency.

Sudden numbness may indicate that you have an infection that has spread. When an infection spreads to the root of your tooth, it can destroy the nerves there.

While relief from pain may be welcome, you need emergency dental care to treat the infection. 

Do You Need Emergency Dentistry?

It's always better to be on the safe side when it comes to your oral health and your smile.

If you are experiencing any of these signs you need emergency dentistry, call us today. We are a dentist in Rockaway Beach, NY that offers emergency dental services.

Click here to contact us today to schedule an emergency appointment.