When it comes to troubling symptoms affecting your mouth, teeth, gums and jaw, the last thing you want to do is underreact. But no one wants to overreact, either. When is something an emergency that justified seeing an emergency dentist in NE Calgary?
The first and most important answer to that question is this: there is no downside to contacting a clinic about emergency dentistry in Temple. If your situation is not actually an emergency, they’ll tell you so and all you’ve wasted is a bit of time – but you have some peace of mind to show for it. On the other hand, if your situation is an emergency, you’ll be able to get the attention you need right away. Aside from those peace-of-mind queries that the staff at Temple Square Dental are always ready to handle, here are five situations when you should never hesitate to pursue emergency dentistry in NE Calgary.
You should contact an emergency dentist if…
You have a persistent toothache
The pain of many toothaches can often be resolved by simple steps you can take at home: using over-the-counter pain medication as directed; flossing your teeth, and applying a cold compress. If you have a toothache with pain that persists despite those steps – or that interferes with your sleep – contact an emergency dentist. A dentist in Temple may be able to diagnose an underlying issue that requires immediate intervention to ease your pain and to protect your health.
You have a chipped, cracked or broken tooth
Suffering the most minor of chips to a tooth may not warrant undergoing emergency dentistry near you, but more significant chips and any cracks or breaks to a tooth should prompt a call to a dentist right away. What may appear to be superficial damage may be much more extensive upon closer examination or when imaged with x-rays. Even seemingly minor chips, cracks and breaks can actually be significant enough to cause severe infections, pain and damage to the interior of a tooth. Call your dentist right away and – if possible – place the broken-off part of your tooth in some saltwater and take it with you to the dentist.
You have bleeding gums
Minor, temporary, fleeting and rare bleeding while brushing or flossing may be a sign of brushing or flossing too aggressively. That’s not an emergency. On the other hand, bleeding gums can also be a sign of periodontitis, a serious form of gum disease that can lead to the loss of gum tissue and even teeth. If you are experiencing bleeding gums that are anything other than minor, temporary, fleeting and rare, call an emergency dentist near you so they can rule out serious gum infections.
You’ve sustained soft tissue injuries
Injuries to your tongue, gums, lips and cheeks can be caused by slips and falls, assaults, motor vehicle accidents and even sports collisions. If those injuries cause extreme or prolonged bleeding, you should contact an emergency dentist or attend an emergency room right away. A dentist may not be able to treat the injuries in the same way a doctor would, but they’ll be able to help bring the bleeding under control and give you some pain relief.
You’ve had a tooth knocked out
In extreme situations, those slips and falls, assaults, motor vehicle accidents or sporting collisions can even knock out a tooth. In that case, you should immediately contact an emergency dentist. They may even be able to save your natural tooth if you’re able to retrieve it. If you can, handle it by its crown and rinse it off with running water before trying to place it back in its socket. If you can’t do that, put it in some salt water or even a glass of milk and take it to the dentist with you.
In cases of dental emergencies, try to stay calm and trust us to give you the care when you need it. We’re just a phone call away at any time of day or night.