Five conditions that your dentist may consider an emergency
To many dental patients, there are fewer experiences more worrying than waking up in the middle of the night with a throbbing pain under one of their teeth.
While dental emergencies are extremely common, many patients are uninformed as to what situations actually require a same day trip to see their dental practitioner. Of course, while discomfort is an obvious indicator that something is amiss, there are many other conditions and presentations that should be seen immediately by a dental team.
But how exactly do you identify a dental emergency if there is no discomfort?
At Byfleet Dental, if you are concerned that you have a dental emergency, contact our dentist in West Byfleet as soon as you can. Our surgery sets aside appointments each day to deal with dental emergencies and so, the sooner you contact us, the sooner you can get on with your day without worrying about a recurring toothache!
So, what are some of the other indicators that you require a same-day appointment with our dentist in West Byfleet? Here are the top five dental emergencies that our team handles day to day.
Swelling
Most people have seen someone who has a toothache and also has a swollen face.
While this is an obvious sign that there is an underlying issue with the jaw or teeth, any minor swellings should also prompt you to seek out an urgent appointment with our dentist in West Byfleet. Swelling could indicate anything from injury or inflammation, to a dental abscess, so it is best to have any swelling examined.
Chips and cracks
Cracks in the tooth and chips are common in dentistry and are usually the result of being involved in contact sports like rugby or football.
While they can seem pretty innocuous in themselves, any chip or crack should be examined by a dental professional as soon as possible, to fix the damage with composite, and prevent bacteria from gaining access to the pulp of the tooth.
Lost filling or crown
Lost fillings are treated daily in dental surgeries and, while you may not notice any discomfort, if you notice either of these issues, you should see a dental team at your earliest convenience. Once again, this is due to bacteria now having access to a sensitive and usually inaccessible part of your tooth, which can lead to dental abscesses or decay.
Bleeding
Most people have bitten their tongue at one time or another, but if you have a dental bleed that is not stopping, you need an emergency appointment.
Our team will assess the cause of your bleed, and may apply stitches or glues to temporarily seal the cut while it heals.
Lumps and bumps
Nothing is scarier than finding a lump in your mouth.
While an internet search will typically scare you into thinking you have cancer, rest assured that most oral lumps are benign but just to be safe, you should contact our team as soon as you discover any odd lumps, bumps or lesions.