If you’re suffering with a dental problem, your Keller Dentist should be your first call. But what if you find yourself with a dental problem outside of normal dental office hours such as on a holiday, weekend, or at night? If you have a severe dental problem that can’t wait until normal office hours, you need an emergency dentist or you might possibly need to go to the emergency room.

While you’re in a rush to make a decision, here’s something things to consider:

What is a Dental Emergency

Recognizing dental emergencies is something all adults should prepare for prior to a bad situation in which you need to know how to respond to them. This is especially important for parents of even little children, as little children are quite accident prone and we tend to see quite a few with missing and chipped teeth. I’m sure for all the moms out there that have spent even a little time on a Facebook mom’s group or scroll through Instagram that you have seen your fair share of other moms provide evidence of that little fact.

How to Know if it’s a Dental Emergency

First off, at least 22% of people have experienced dental or oral pain in the last 6 months in the United States. More than one-in-five in the span of a single recurring dental visit. That’s a lot!

Still, of those 22% or so, not all are considered dental emergencies. Many of those patients could visit the dentist the next day and be fine. However, for those that are in an emergency dental situation, you should ask yourself the following questions to determine what would be the best decision.

  • Are you in severe pain? Severe pain, whether from injury or progression over time can be signs of an emergency.
  • Do you have loose teeth? As an adult, you have loose teeth that’s a sign of very serious damage to the gum tissue and is most definitely an emergency.
  • Did you lose a tooth? Rapid treatment can save your tooth and you can increase your chances by calling your Keller Dentist.
  • If you lost a tooth, did you swallow it? If you’ve swallowed your tooth, that’s an emergency best cared for at the Emergency Room.
  • Do you have an infection? An abscess or serious infection may be life-threatening, caused by oral cancer, or other severe health issues. This may be best checked at the dentist and if necessary by your regular physician or emergency room doctor.
  • Are you bleeding from the mouth? This could be the sign of an emergency.

For a further look into deciding whether to go to the emergency room or to call your Keller TX Dentist for your dental emergency, check out our article: Should you go to the ER for a Dental Emergency?

If you’re suffering from any of these symptoms, please act quickly to call Dr. Pickett at Pickett Family Dental and to get in for an emergency visit or if there’s no way to get you in, go ahead and head to the hospital to ensure the best care possible.

What Isn’t a Dental Emergency

If your dental problem can wait days or weeks to be addressed, then it isn’t a dental emergency. Sometimes dental problems such as pains, aches, soreness can all be attributed to things are non emergent such as bruxism. Even a chipped tooth isn’t necessarily a dental emergency if there’s no pain or trauma to the mouth. If you’re dental issue  falls along these lines, then you can wait a day or two if absolutely necessary. However, most of the time we can help squeeze you into the schedule pretty quickly.

Common Dental Emergencies

Sometimes patients come into our dental office with dental emergencies that need to be taken care of. Here’s 7 types of potential dental emergencies that are more common than you might think:

  1. Toothache: A toothache can be caused by a variety of issues such as tooth decay, infection, or injury. It is important to see a dentist as soon as possible to determine the cause and to prevent further damage.
  2. Chipped or broken tooth: A chipped or broken tooth can be caused by trauma or injury. It is important to see a dentist as soon as possible to prevent further damage and to determine the best course of treatment.
  3. Knocked-out tooth: A knocked-out tooth can be caused by trauma or injury. It is important to see a dentist as soon as possible to determine if the tooth can be saved and to prevent further damage.
  4. Lost filling or crown: A lost filling or crown can be caused by decay or injury. It is important to see a dentist as soon as possible to prevent further damage and to determine the best course of treatment.
  5. Abscess: An abscess is a pocket of pus that can form at the root of a tooth or in the gums. It is caused by an infection and can be very painful. It is important to see a dentist as soon as possible to prevent further damage and to determine the best course of treatment.
  6. Soft-tissue injury: Soft-tissue injuries, such as cuts or lacerations to the tongue, lips, or cheeks, can be caused by trauma or injury. It is important to see a dentist or oral surgeon as soon as possible to prevent further damage and to determine the best course of treatment.
  7. Severe swelling: Swelling in the face or gums can be caused by infection or injury. It is important to see a dentist as soon as possible to prevent further damage and to determine the best course of treatment.

If you’re looking to find out more about common dental emergencies, then please check out our latest article on the top 5 most common dental emergencies that we see patients for at our Keller TX Emergency Dentist Office.

Contact Us to Schedule an Emergency Dental Appointment

Our calendar stays pretty booked out. If you need to come in for an emergency appointment, please call our dental office in Keller, TX immediately at (817) 431-5514.