Life is full of emergencies. Health emergencies often rank among the most upsetting. Dental emergencies can range from seriously inconvenient to debilitatingly painful and potentially fatal. This is why accessing emergency dental care is vital to your well-being. Hospitals are equipped to address the healthcare emergencies that plague people; however, dental emergencies are best handled in the dental office.

Appropriate Care for Dental Emergencies

The dental office is equipped to handle dental emergencies with a team of dental professionals possessing the expertise and skill to address all types of emergencies pertaining to the mouth. The equipment and tools used are also an important factor in the equation. Many dental emergencies require more than, or something different than, pain relievers and/or antibiotics.

An infected tooth or trauma to the mouth are certainly major dental emergencies. There are other issues that fit in this category as well. A missing filling may not seem like a dental emergency, but when hot or cold beverages come in contact with the exposed inner layer of the tooth, sensitivity can be severe. Pain in the mouth, whether due to your teeth, gums or jaw joint, should be addressed as soon as possible. The correct diagnosis leads to pain relief and can also help avoid more serious complications that can arise when the pain is ignored.

Our dental emergency services handle all types of dental emergencies including:

• Chipped & Broken Tooth
• Filling Fell Out
• Gum Pain Relief
• Jaw Pain Relief
• Severe Tooth Pain Relief
• TMJ Symptoms
• Tooth Infection Symptoms
• Tooth Nerve Pain Relief
• Toothache Relief
• Root Canal
• Same Day Extraction & Dental Implant

The care you would receive in a hospital emergency room or urgent care facility for any of the above conditions would be minimal. This is unless the facility is equipped with dental equipment and a qualified dentist. When you choose to be treated at our dental emergency site, you can be assured of receiving unparalleled oral care along with compassion and understanding for your pain and discomfort.

Anatomy of a Toothache

A tooth can hurt for any number of reasons. The most common reason is due to infection, and it is usually caused by tooth decay. Teeth have three layers, beginning with the hard, outer layer of enamel. This layer is the hardest substance in the human body. Though it is tough, it is vulnerable to acid. There is acid in the foods we eat, and bad bacteria produces acid that is particularly hard on teeth. When these acids permeate the tooth enamel, they move on to the next layer, which is called the dentin. The dentin is softer than the enamel, and decay can travel faster in this layer. Sometimes a cavity may appear small on the outside of the tooth, but inside, decay has ravaged the inner layer. This creates a much larger cavity than what can be seen visibly without diagnostic imaging.

This inner layer is living tissue with the ability to grow and repair. Unlike the enamel layer, there are tiny nerves running through tubules in the dentin. These nerves are connected to the nerves in the pulp of the tooth. This is the nerve center, and when irritated, can cause discomfort or pain. The more that decay destroys the dentin and comes closer to the pulp, the more pain is felt.

When the pulp becomes involved, the nerve of the tooth is attacked. Infection in this area can lead to an abscess. As the body mounts a fight against the infection, toxins build up which can cause swelling and inflammation. Increased blood flow to the area produces building pressure, causing severe pain.

If the infection is left untreated, the abscess could break, pouring toxins into the bloodstream. Without immediate proper care, the body could go into sepsis as contamination of the blood increases.

What Your Pain Is Saying

When you experience any oral pain, it should be examined. Pain is an indicator that something is wrong. In the mouth, it is often a sign of infection. Sometimes a tooth can be cracked or broken, exposing the pulp, and this can cause pain.

Jaw pain is usually attributed to problems with the temporomandibular joint. Overuse or trauma can lead to headaches, neck and shoulder pain. Clenching or grinding your teeth can cause this type of pain.

The correct diagnosis of your pain leads to relief. That may come in the form of root canal therapy for an infected tooth, extraction of a tooth that is too badly damaged to save or removal of one that is impacted. Gum discomfort may require periodontal treatment. Jaw pain can be treated with pain relievers, targeted exercises or a dental device to prevent clenching or grinding.

Whatever dental emergency you or a loved one may suffer from, contact our office. We handle all dental emergencies with care and compassion and can relieve the pain and restore oral health.