When to Seek Emergency Dental Care: Top Signs You Need Immediate Attention

When to Seek Emergency Dental Care: Top Signs You Need Immediate Attention

By: Hillside Dental Fine Art
Posted on: Jan 14, 2025

At Hillside Dental, we understand that dental emergencies can happen at any time, often when you least expect them. Knowing when to seek emergency dental care can make all the difference in preventing further damage, relieving pain, and protecting your overall oral health.

Common Dental Emergencies We Handle

Emergency dental situations can vary widely, and not all dental issues require immediate attention. However, there are some cases where prompt action is essential to preserve your oral health. Here are some of the most common dental emergencies we address:

•          Severe Toothache: Persistent, intense tooth pain could indicate an infection, decay, or even abscess. If the pain is severe, you may need immediate treatment.

•          Broken or Cracked Tooth: A cracked, broken, or fractured tooth, especially if accompanied by pain, requires urgent attention
to avoid further complications.

•          Knocked-Out Tooth: Acting quickly when a tooth is knocked out can increase the chances of saving it. Place it in milk or a tooth-preserving solution and come to Hillside Dental as soon as possible.

•          Lost Filling or Crown: Losing a filling or crown exposes the tooth to potential damage and infection. Replacing it promptly is essential to protect the affected tooth.

•          Dental Abscess: An abscess is a serious infection that can develop at the root of a tooth or in the gums. It often causes swelling, severe pain, and sometimes a fever. This condition requires immediate treatment to prevent the infection from spreading.

•          Bleeding Gums or Swollen Jaw: If you experience persistent gum bleeding, especially if it is accompanied by swelling or pain, you may need emergency care to address potential gum disease or other oral health issues.

Recognizing the Signs of a Dental Emergency

Understanding when you need emergency dental care is essential to ensure that you receive the help you need right away. Here are some signs that you may need urgent dental care:

•          Intense, Persistent Pain: Dental pain that doesn't improve with over-the-counter pain relievers or is severe enough to disrupt your daily activities is a strong indication of an underlying issue.

•          Visible Damage to Teeth: Chips, cracks, or fractures can worsen over time and may lead to more serious issues if left untreated. Don’t wait if you can see damage to your teeth.

•          Swelling in the Mouth, Face, or Jaw: Swelling may signal an infection, which requires prompt attention to prevent it from spreading and affecting other areas of your mouth or face.

•          Foul Taste or Odor in the Mouth: A lingering bad taste or smell in your mouth, especially if accompanied by pain or swelling, could be a sign of an infection.

•          Bleeding That Won't Stop: While minor bleeding from brushing or flossing is usually not an emergency, uncontrolled bleeding could indicate a more serious condition that needs immediate care.

Our Emergency Dental Services

At Hillside Dental, we provide comprehensive emergency dental services to address a wide range of urgent dental needs. Our emergency services include:

•          Pain Relief and Infection Control: We aim to relieve your pain and prevent any infections from worsening, using safe and effective medications and techniques.

•          Tooth Repair and Restoration: For broken, chipped, or cracked teeth, we provide restorative options such as bonding, crowns, or fillings to protect and restore the tooth's structure.

•          Root Canal Therapy: If an infection or decay has reached the inner layers of your tooth, root canal therapy may be necessary to remove the infection and save the tooth.

•          Tooth Extractions: If a tooth is beyond repair, our team can perform a gentle extraction to relieve pain and prevent further complications.

•          Abscess Treatment: Treating an abscess requires careful attention to drain the infection and prevent it from spreading. We provide effective treatment options tailored to each case.

Contact Hillside Dental for Your Emergency Dental Needs

When a dental emergency strikes, reach out to Hillside Dental for immediate assistance. Our dentists are here to provide the prompt, compassionate care you need to restore your oral health and peace of mind. Contact our office in Las Vegas, Nevada, by calling (702) 666-8584 for new patients or (702) 895-7799 for existing patients.