A dental emergency should receive prompt treatment. Here are a few examples of dental emergencies and why they are categorized as such.

Dislodged Teeth

A tooth can easily become dislodged by a traumatic force, such as a blow to the mouth from a fall. Once the tooth becomes detached from the gums, the soft tissues that are attached to the tooth begin to die. As a result, the longer that the tooth remains out its position in the mouth, the greater the likelihood that it will not reassimilate properly. Thus, immediate dental care is necessary to avoid the loss of the tooth. 

Once your tooth is dislodged, you should contact your dentist as soon as possible. Additionally, to keep the bits of tissue that are attached to the dislodged tooth moist and viable, you should keep the tooth in your mouth or place it in a container of milk until you reach the dental office. 

Cracked Teeth

A crack in a tooth can occur due to a weakened area of the tooth enamel or to an unusual amount of bite pressure. The condition may not seem serious at first. However, the crack may allow bacteria to enter the tooth. 

Once oral microbes breach the surface of a tooth, they may infect the dental pulp, which is the living tissue inside the tooth. The pulp contains the nerves and blood vessels of the tooth. If the pulp becomes infected, it may lead to chronic dental pain, a jawbone infection, and possible tooth loss. 

The dentist can prevent an infection by promptly disinfecting the area surrounding the tooth and sealing the crack.

Extreme Tooth Pain

A toothache can occur because of dental sensitivity. Thus, it may result from simple activities, such as eating a bowl of ice cream. However, when tooth pain is severe and does not easily resolve, it could indicate a more serious condition, such as an abscessed tooth. 

An abscessed tooth occurs when a tooth becomes infected. The infection can spread to the bone of the jaw and may even enter the bloodstream to affect other areas of the body. 

Since you may not know the reason for your dental pain, if the discomfort does not diminish after taking over-the-counter pain medicines, you should contact your dentist. He or she can assess your mouth to determine the cause of your pain and treat it before the condition worsens. 

If you believe that you have a dental emergency, contact an emergency dental office like Centre Family Dentistry in your local area as soon as possible.