I love that my family dentist is tech-savvy. It's so easy to book a dentist on his smartphone app if I have a tooth problem or if anyone in my family needs emergency problems (I can choose either my normal dentist or another dentist in his practise depending on availability). He also has some great cameras so that we can see exactly what is going on during treatment. I prefer not to see this, but my kids love to be able to see the dentist using his specialised tools to clean and repair their teeth. This blog has some tips on finding a tech-savvy dentist to help give your family the best possible dental care.
Unless you're a dentist, oral health often feels mysterious. You may know that you're in pain or something is wrong, but you might feel hesitant about seeking emergency dental care. However, there are some dental emergencies you should never ignore.
Swelling That Spreads
Swelling is one of the ways your body tells you something is wrong, and this isn't unusual when you have a dental infection. However, if your swelling starts to spread, you should seek emergency dental treatment immediately. This is especially true if your swelling spreads towards your eyes, neck or ears. Such swelling suggests that the infection is tracking through your circulatory system and could cause a broader systemic problem. Your dentist can use various diagnostic tools to determine what approach they need to take.
Pain That Wakes You
It's important to know the difference between the pain that you wake up with and the pain that wakes you up. If you're waking up because of your tooth pain, you should see an emergency dentist. This isn't the same as waking up at a time that's normal for you and realising that your pain is still there. If you're unsure, contact an emergency dentist anyway. Pain that wakes you is usually severe and indicates that your toothache is due to an event that requires emergency attention. While your dentist may not suggest seeing you in the middle of the night, they may want to see you first thing in the morning.
Ongoing Bleeding
Following a dental extraction, some bleeding is normal. Bleeding that continues or worsens is not. If the bleeding you experience doesn't stop after 20 minutes, call a dentist. Or, if it stops and returns with a heavier flow, get an emergency appointment. Your dentist should ask some questions to determine the severity of the bleeding. Make sure you give as much detail as possible to get an accurate assessment. Your dentist might recommend some self-help measures or they'll request to see you in person.
Facial Trauma
Facial trauma of any kind requires emergency dental care. Trauma a dentist might want to see includes falling on your face, heavy contact during sports and any accident that could impact your facial bones. They may perform an x-ray to identify fractures. Depending on the extent of your injuries, they might need to refer you to a maxillofacial surgeon. You may find that no injury is present, but the only way to tell is by speaking to an expert.
For more information, reach out to an emergency dental clinic, such as Jansz Dental.
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