8 Most Common Asked Questions About Emergency Dentistry in Glastonbury

A dental emergency can strike at any place or time of day. Unfortunately, there’s no way to foresee or prepare for a dental emergency. However, having an emergency dentist near you can help you receive prompt and reliable care when faced with an emergency. In this article, let’s examine the eight most FAQs about Emergency Dentistry.

What is a dental emergency?

Perhaps the most basic question is what constitutes a dental emergency. Like most people, you might be confused as to which dental problems require urgent care and which can wait till later. Generally, a dental emergency is a condition accompanied by severe symptoms like pain, bleeding, fever, and swelling.

For instance, you should seek emergency treatment if you have:

• A knocked-out tooth fur to trauma from sports or car accidents
• Severe pain or sensitivity that worsens or won’t respond to painkillers
• Uncontrollable bleeding
• Severe swelling taut affects the neck, throat, and eyes
• Dental abscess
• Severe injuries to the soft tissue of the mouth like lips, cheeks, and tongue
• Severe discomfort from damaged or lost restorations
• Severe dental trauma

Some problems don’t require you to call your dentist at odd night hours. Still, it’s essential to visit your dentist as soon as possible. Delaying treatment will likely cause the issue to escalate, which can lead to long-term damage. These oral issues include:

• Mild toothache or sensitivity
• Minor tooth damage like chipping
• A loose or lost restorations
• Minor bleeding when brushing teeth
• Minor soft tissue injuries

How do I relieve oral or tooth pain?

Severe throbbing pain could indicate something is stuck between teeth, severe tooth decay, gum infection, and dental trauma. If food fragments are stuck, try to brush and floss them to dislodge them. Similarly, you can manage the pain using over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen. You can also consider home remedies like placing an ice pack on the face outside the painful area.

What do I do if I have chipped or broken my tooth?

You should seek emergency treatment if you have a chipped, fractured, or broken tooth accompanied by severe swelling, bleeding, or pain. However, you can wait until the dental office opens if the damage is minor to moderate and you’re not experiencing any discomfort. Be sure to see your dentist in the next 24 hours, as delaying treatment will expose delicate parts of the tooth to bacterial infection and decay.

Should I visit a dental clinic for an emergency?

If a dental emergency happens late at night, you can call your emergency dentist near you. However, if an emergency occurs during the day, you should visit a dentist or dental clinic near you. We offer emergency dentistry in Glastonbury, CT.

An emergency dentist vs. a general dentist. What’s the difference?

A general dentist provides general dental care to people of all ages. They offer procedures like dental restorations, cavities, gum disease, teeth whitening, and routine dental exam & cleanings. They can also help manage emergency conditions.

On the other hand, an emergency dentist is a dental professional like a general dentist. The only difference is that they have a flexible schedule and offer specific treatments. Unlike a general dentist, an emergency dentist is available 24/7, taking patients without an appointment.

How soon should you visit the dentist?

You should seek urgent dental care for severe symptoms like bleeding, knocked-out tooth, swelling, or pain. For instance, seeing a dentist within an hour can help restore a knocked-out tooth. If the symptoms are mild and average, you can seek treatment within 24 hours.

What do I do if my tooth is loose or knocked out?

Dental trauma can cause your tooth to loosen or fall out entirely. The sooner you seek dental care, the better the chances of saving the tooth. If the tooth has fallen out, try to place it back in the socket. If not possible, preserve it in a glass of milk or water.

I have lost a filling. Do I need emergency care?

Losing a filling shouldn’t prompt you to seek emergency treatment unless it’s accompanied by severe pain, sensitivity, and swelling. However, you should still see a dentist within 1 – 3 days. In the meantime, you can cover the cavity with a sugar-free temporary filling.

Schedule an Appointment Today

Do you need emergency dental care? Contact Steven F. Hinchey, DMD, an emergency dentist in Glastonbury, CT.