Injuries often happen at the most inconvenient times. Most professionals aren’t playing pickup basketball games during working hours, it is after they have left work (and the dentist has also) that they find themselves involved in a pickup game and a tooth gets knocked out.
Sudden tooth pain or jaw pain also seems to happen late at night. What can you do if you need dental care right away?
Let’s talk about some of the main reasons why you may need to see a dentist as soon as possible, and exactly who can provide that emergency dental care.
Types of Dental Emergencies
The following are some of the most common reasons why you would need emergency dental treatment in a matter of hours, not days:
Toothache
If a toothache comes late at night, you will want to be seen by a dentist as quickly as possible. A toothache is not only bothersome because of the pain, but it causes the inability to eat and may make it impossible to sleep.
Chipped or Cracked Tooth
If a tooth gets chipped, breaks, or becomes cracked, the key to saving that tooth is to get it repaired by a dentist right away. Rinse out your mouth with warm saltwater, and bring the chipped portion (if possible) to the dentist in a glass of milk or a wet folded paper towel. The key is to not allow it to dry out.
Broken Dental Crown or Lost Filling
If a dental crown breaks off or a filling falls out, seek dental help as soon as possible so that bacteria and other contaminants do not invade the vulnerable area. A lost crown should be replaced as quickly as possible in order to prevent further decay of the remaining tooth structure.
Dental Abscess
One of the more painful instances of a dental emergency, a dental abscess is a bacterial infection that has taken place around a tooth or in the gums. It causes the formation of pus around the infection. Treat this pain with over-the-counter pain relievers until you are able to receive dental care, which should be within the same day.
Abscesses are serious, because they can trap an infection under the gumline and can affect nearby teeth, jawbone, and the bloodstream. If a noticeable bulge forms and it brings pain and a fever, seek emergency dental help – this can become life-threatening due to the proximity to the brain.
Normally, antibiotics and a root canal will relieve the pain, pressure, and infection from an abscess. In extreme cases, extraction of the tooth may be necessary in order to prevent the spread of infection.
Emergency Dentist in Las Vegas
If you live in the Las Vegas or Henderson area, then you are used to most things being open 24 hours a day. But even here, most doctors and dentists go home after normal business hours.
Partner with a trusted dental practice that can provide emergency dental services whenever you need it: Dedicated Dental Care. Our team offers emergency dental appointments and same-day services for dental emergencies that cannot wait.
Call us today at (702) 566-5509 or request an emergency appointment online now, and place your oral health in the best hands available!