6 Dental Emergencies that Need Immediate Attention

Emergency Dentists in Scarborough

Going to the dentist usually requires you to make an appointment well ahead of time. When you sustain an unexpected injury or have a sudden onset of severe pain, however, it’s a dental emergency. At times like that, it’s not always possible to wait two weeks or longer for attention. Our emergency dentist in Scarborough can fit you in and give you the relief you need.

Situations Requiring Immediate Attention

Some dental situations are particularly urgent, and delays in receiving treatment can cause long-term damage you’d rather not have. These include:

Severe Pain and/or Bleeding

This can be caused by an injury to the mouth or gums, which usually dislodges one or more teeth. The earlier you can get teeth that have been knocked out back into their socket, the better your chances are to save them, so this should be a priority.

Early signs of gingivitis can also include pain and bleeding, and the gums can be swollen and achy. It’s vital to stop gingivitis in its tracks to prevent the symptoms from reaching an advanced stage.

Loose Teeth

By the time you reach adulthood, your teeth should have matured and reached stability. If you have sustained a tooth injury, however, it may have caused the loosening of one or more teeth. That can be painful and need urgent attention. Even if your teeth appear to be safe and sound after an injury, it’s vital to check for nerve or jaw damage. These situations might not cause immediate symptoms, but an x-ray could discover problems and enable you to get a surgical tooth extraction or other treatment before they worsen.

Swollen Jaw

If your jaw appears to be swollen this can be a sign of pericoronitis, a condition that is caused by partially erupted wisdom teeth. These can be very painful and cause swelling of the tissue towards the back of the mouth. The swelling could also be caused by stones or calcifications in the glands that result in a blockage. Any appearance of swelling in the jaw should be cause for concern and you should contact our emergency dentist in Scarborough for an appointment.

Localized Infection

The accumulation of bacteria in your mouth can cause inflammation, which could develop into advanced gum disease. This commonly results in loose teeth and localized infection. Treating an infection without delay can prevent it from spreading, however, and potentially help you to avoid extractions.

Knocked-Out Tooth

More than 5 million teeth get knocked out by injury or accident every year. If you’re able to rescue the tooth, your dentist might be able to reinsert it. Pick it up carefully without touching the root, rinse it without scrubbing and reinsert it into the tooth socket if you can. If not, place it in a small quantity of milk and immediately bring it to your dentist to see if we can reinsert it.

Dental Abscess

An abscessed tooth is a severe tooth infection that has spread to the tooth root. It can cause fever, tooth sensitivity, pain, swelling, and gum inflammation and requires a visit to our emergency dentist in Scarborough. This situation needs urgent treatment because the infection can spread to your jaw, tissues, and other parts of the body. Emergency care could include fillings, tooth extraction or root canal therapy, and antibiotics to take during the root canal recovery period.

Discover real emergency dental care that treats every patient as an individual, and get your concerns taken care of immediately. Please call 416-291-3117 or click here to schedule an appointment today.