What is a Dental Emergency?

When we hear the word “emergency,” we often think of life-threatening situations like heart attacks or car accidents. However, it’s important to remember that dental emergencies are just as serious and require immediate care and treatment. Even though they may not be as dramatic, they still require urgent attention.

If you’re experiencing intense tooth pain outside of Dentarana’s regular business hours (Mon, Wed, Fri 8am-5pm, Tue, Thur 8am-8pm, Sat 8am-2pm), you can call (07) 3351 3366 to speak with a dentist.

So, what exactly qualifies as a dental emergency? And which dental emergencies are the most common? You can find out more in our guide to dental emergencies.

What is Classed as a Dental Emergency?

A dental emergency is one that requires immediate attention from a trained dental professional.

Dental emergencies usually involve one or more of the following symptoms:

• Severe Pain: If you’re experiencing severe or unbearable pain in your tooth or gums, it’s important to visit an emergency dentist as soon as possible. Pain generally acts as a signal that something is wrong and requires urgent care from a dentist.
• Trauma: Accidents or injuries that result in cracked, chipped, or knocked-out teeth will usually require emergency dental care. This immediate attention is critical in order to save the tooth and/or minimise further damage.
• Excessive bleeding: Any kind of excessive or uncontrollable bleeding in the mouth should be addressed immediately through emergency dental services.
• Swelling or abscess: Significant swelling in the mouth or face can indicate the presence of an abscess or severe infection, especially when accompanied by extreme pain or fever. This is classed as a dental emergency that needs immediate attention.
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing: Though less common, any dental problem that impairs your breathing or swallowing is a critical emergency that needs urgent dental services.

When Does Tooth Decay Become an Emergency?

If you’re wondering whether tooth decay is considered a dental emergency, it’s important to know that in its early stages, it usually doesn’t require emergency dental services. Instead, it can often be treated during regular dental visits with fillings or other treatments. However, if tooth decay leads to symptoms such as severe pain, an abscess, or an infection, it becomes a serious dental emergency that requires immediate attention from an emergency dentist.

The Most Common Types of Emergency Dental Situations

Toothache

Experiencing a toothache can be excruciating, requiring urgent dental attention. The causes of toothache can vary, from cavities or abscesses to impacted teeth, so it’s crucial to seek immediate assistance from your dentist to diagnose the root of your pain.

If you’re seeking relief for unbearable tooth pain, temporary measures such as using a cold compress on the affected area, taking over-the-counter pain medication, and rinsing your mouth with warm salt water can provide some relief. However, it’s important to note that these remedies cannot replace professional emergency dental services.

A Broken or Cracked Tooth

Is a broken tooth an emergency dental situation? The answer is sometimes – broken or cracked teeth may be considered dental emergencies that require urgent care.

The urgency of the treatment will depend on the severity of the break or crack, but immediate attention may be needed to prevent further damage and ideally save the tooth.

A Knocked-Out Tooth

A knocked-out tooth is one of the most serious dental emergencies you can face – and emergency dental care is crucial.

If you still have the tooth, hold it by the crown and gently rinse off any dirt. If possible, place the tooth back in its socket with care; if this isn’t feasible, place the tooth in a glass of milk, which will help to preserve it, and seek emergency dental services immediately.

A Lost Filling or Crown

While a lost filling or dental crown may not be as painful as some other dental emergencies, this situation can expose the tooth to potential damage and decay.

For this reason, it’s important to treat a lost filling or crown as a dental emergency and seek care as soon as possible.

An Abscess

An abscess is a severe infection that occurs around a tooth’s root or in the space between the teeth and gums. Symptoms of an abscess may include fever, pain, tooth sensitivity, and swollen lymph nodes.

Abscesses require immediate emergency dental services to prevent the spread of infection.

Oral Infections

If you experience severe swelling in your face or mouth, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or intense pain, it could be a sign of a severe oral infection that needs immediate emergency dental care. It’s important to seek emergency dental services as soon as possible if you suspect you have an oral infection.

Excessive Bleeding

Whether the bleeding is due to recent dental surgery, an injury, or an unknown reason, uncontrolled or excessive bleeding is a sign that emergency dental services are required to prevent the bleeding and identify the exact cause.

How Soon Should You Seek Emergency Dental Services Near You?

In a dental emergency, time is of the essence. For an emergency such as a knocked-out tooth, urgent dental services should be arranged within 30 minutes to an hour.

For other emergencies – such as a severe toothache or an abscess – you should seek emergency dental services as soon as possible, ideally on the same day.

Dental emergencies require immediate attention from a dental professional. Understanding what qualifies as a dental emergency can help you take action quickly, which will help to minimise further damage.

If you experience any of the emergencies we’ve discussed in this article, contact your professional dentists immediately so we can help you arrange emergency dental services on the same day.