When most people think of an emergency, they rarely think about oral health. But there are actually lots of instances when you may need to visit an emergency dentist in Greenville, SC.
Keep reading to learn what an emergency dentist is and how to approach any dental emergency you might experience.
Dental Emergency: a Brief Definition
Think of a dental emergency as any situation where you may need to see a dentist outside their regular hours.
This can happen either because you’re in extreme pain and cannot manage your symptoms at home or because you’re at risk of developing serious and irreparable damage, such as permanent tooth loss.
Of course, other than pain, it can be difficult for people to know what type of dental issue can lead to emergency-type complications. To help you out, check out this list of some of the most common types of dental emergencies:
- Oral pain: Feeling pain is never normal, and if yours is severe, you may need an emergency appointment. Pain can be a sign of a large cavity, infection, or even a severe crack that needs immediate attention.
- Oral bleeding: Bleeding from the mouth that doesn’t stop in a few hours is also a sign of a dental emergency. A dentist will need to locate the source of the bleeding and administer the right treatment to stop it.
- Knocked-out tooth: If you lose a permanent tooth, swift action could prevent losing it for good. The tooth may be successfully reimplanted in its socket.
- Broken orthodontics: If you wear braces and the wires break, this is also a dental emergency! The wires may cause damage to your mouth by cutting your tongue or cheeks, so they need to be fixed as soon as possible.
- Broken oral prosthetics: If you have a dental crown, implant, bridge, dentures, or any other type of prosthetic and it breaks, you can assume you need immediate appointments to get it fixed.
What to Do In a Dental Emergency
If you’re in a dental emergency or aren’t exactly sure, follow these steps:
- Stay calm and assess the situation to get all the details
- Call Dr. Parke Ladd ASAP to describe your symptoms
- Based on your condition, you’ll receive some recommendations to manage your situation and learn if you need an immediate appointment or not
- Follow Dr. Ladd’s instructions to the letter
- Don’t skip your emergency appointment, even if you think you’re feeling better
- In some cases, dental emergencies cannot be treated in one visit, so don’t skip any necessary follow-up appointments either
Dealing with a Dental Emergency? We Can Help
Dr. Parke Ladd is available for same-day, after-hours, and even weekend appointments to help you restore your oral health whenever you need it.
Call us at (864) 233-1533 now for immediate help, or request a visit to Ladd Family Dental using our online form.