Sometimes when people experience a sudden dental problem, they aren’t quite sure when to call their emergency dentist. Although some issues can wait until your next appointment to be evaluated, there are other dental problems that need to be treated proactively. Here are three issues that warrant a call to your emergency dentist and why. 

Severe Toothaches

Some toothaches come and go, especially if you wear braces or nightly retainers to treat crooked teeth. However, a toothache that just won’t go away could be a sign of a serious infection, which could compromise your overall health. If you have a severe toothache, call your dentist and talk with them about your symptoms. In addition to treating the physical site of the infection, your dentist might prescribe antibiotics to help your body fight the bacteria that caused the problem.  

Cracked or Fractured Teeth

Although a small chip taken out of the edge of a tooth is nothing more than a cosmetic problem, larger chips can expose the sensitive underlying dentin or even your tooth’s inner pulp chamber. Leaving this area exposed could open your tooth up to bacteria and food particles, which could cause infections. If you have a cracked or fractured tooth, make an appointment for emergency treatment.

Teeth That Have Been Knocked Out

The sooner teeth that are knocked out are put back into their sockets by a professional, the higher the chances are of the tooth surviving the injury. If you have a tooth that has been knocked out, pick the tooth up by the crown, never touching the roots, and place it in a cup of milk or the area between your lower lip and your teeth to keep it moist. Visit your dentist immediately to have the tooth cleaned and reinserted.

Do you need an emergency dentist? Legacy Dental Arts in Eagle River, AK, offers everything from urgent dental care to cosmetic procedures and periodontics. If you are living with dental pain or you are concerned about a tooth that appears damaged, make an appointment today by calling (907) 622-7874. If you are a new patient, you can download new patient forms online.