If you ignore dental pain or an injury to your mouth, you might experience severe oral health issues — especially if you wait to address your problem. But, how do you know if you can delay being seen by your dentist? How do you know if you should be treated right away?
At Empire Dental Group in Old Bridge, New Jersey, Alla Pavlushkin, DDS, leads our professional dental team in taking care of your dental emergency. We can also determine the severity of your oral health condition and give you the proper treatment.
Symptoms of needing immediate dental attention
Not every dental situation is an emergency. However, if you suffer from any of the following symptoms or issues, you may need to go to the emergency room or make a trip to our office right away:
- Severe toothache
- Severe bleeding of the gums
- Permanent teeth that are loose
- Knocked-out tooth
- Trauma to your gums, cheeks, or tongue
- Missing filling
- Broken crown
- Infection
- Swelling in your mouth or jaw
- Exposed nerves
- Stuck object between your teeth or in your gums
To avoid more oral health complications, call us immediately to speak to one of our dental professionals and describe what happened. We can determine your next course of action for your dental emergency.
How to prevent dental emergencies
Accidents can cause dental trauma, but most emergencies can be prevented with proactive oral hygiene.
Caring for your teeth and gums involves:
- Brushing your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush at least twice daily
- Flossing your teeth at least once daily
- Using an antiseptic mouthrinse
- Keeping your routine dental visits
We also recommend that you wear a protective mouthguard if you play high-impact sports or a nightguard if you grind your teeth when you’re asleep.
When your dental issue isn’t an emergency
Sometimes you can have an oral health problem that can wait a day or two with your own care. For example, if you chip or crack your tooth but don’t have any signs of pain, most likely, your appointment can wait a few days. When you call our office, we can give you our professional opinion about what to do.
If you have a toothache but don’t have visible symptoms, such as pimple-like bumps on your gums, swelling in your face, or fever, you can typically manage your pain with over-the-counter medication until you can get in to see Dr. Pavlushkin.
If you have a dental concern, don’t hesitate to call our office to get the treatment you need. Call our friendly office staff at 732-607-0909, or book your appointment online today.