Why You Should See an Emergency Dentist If You Have Oral Pain

Emergency Dentist Bowie, MD

An emergency dentist provides dental care on short notice. Many emergency dentists take walk-ins, while some practices have a dentist on call to respond to emergencies.

You should have the contacts of an emergency dentist on hand, just in case the unexpected happens. An emergency dentist's phone number and physical location enable you to receive urgent care when you or a loved one needs it the most.

Identifying an emergency dentist near you is a worthwhile exercise, and so is learning when you should seek urgent care from a dentist. A good indicator that you or someone you know needs help is oral pain.

An emergency dentist goes over different types of oral pain

Pain and discomfort are the body’s notification system. Physical pain is usually an indicator that a person should seek medical or dental help. As a rule of thumb, the more severe the pain is, the more urgent the underlying issue probably is. The solution for the pain could range from medical intervention to pain medication and home remedies. However, only a doctor or dentist can determine the correct course of action. Here are a few common types of oral pain:

  • Tooth sensitivity from exposure to heat, cold, pressure, sugar, or acid
  • Soreness in the teeth, jaws, and facial muscles
  • Dull, throbbing pain with the sensation of pressure
  • Acute and constant pain
  • Sharp pain that only surfaces when a person applies pressure
  • Sharp, persistent pain that comes with throbbing, pressure, and sometimes, itching

Different types of oral pain point to different root causes. Some of these root causes qualify as dental emergencies. It bears mentioning that less severe tooth pain still requires timely treatment. Putting up with mild or moderate pain can result in severe oral pain down the line. Here is why and when a patient needs to see an emergency dentist for oral pain.

1. Oral pain can be a sign of infection

Sharp pain that comes with throbbing, pressure, and itching is a tell-tale sign of infection. In severe cases, a fever will accompany the pain, which could point to a systemic infection.

Not only is infection painful, but it can also be dangerous. A tooth that robs the person of sleep and peace of mind qualifies as a dental emergency. Having the information of an emergency dentist can enable the patient to get treatment and relief on the same day.

2. Pain can result from injury

The inner tooth contains living tissue that is served by nerves and blood vessels. Tooth pain is the nerves of the inner tooth sending pain signals to the brain. These nerves will send pain signals in case of infection, exposure, or injury.

A break or a fracture may cause swelling or exposure of the inner tooth. Urgent dental care prevents the injury from morphing into an infection or the death of the tooth. Seeing an emergency dentist after an injury also can also help the patient deal with the pain.

3. Oral pain interferes with the patient’s daily life

Someone who deals with teeth grinding or an impacted wisdom tooth may try to power through their pain. But the dull ache and pressure of a problem tooth often come with swelling that makes speaking and eating difficult. Teeth grinding creates a similar set of problems.

Seeing an emergency dentist for this type of issue can improve the person’s quality of life. Emergency dentists who take walk-ins can be lifesavers for people who suffer anxiety in the days leading up to a dental appointment.

Get urgent dental care as soon as you need it

Our practice offers emergency dentistry during office hours and evenings. We also have an emergency dentist who remains on call to respond to patients who need help after hours. Get in touch with us to find out what to do in case you experience a dental emergency.

Request an appointment here: https://www.gatewaydental.org or call Gateway Dental Dr. William Swann DDS at (301) 485-7492 for an appointment in our Bowie office.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Emergency Dentist in Bowie, MD.

Recent Posts

What Qualifies As A Dental Emergency?

Dental emergencies can occur at any time, just like with any normal health emergency. They are sadly unpredictable and can cause a person pain or discomfort at any time. While dental emergencies are actually common, it can often be confusing to know what is classified as a dental emergency.If someone is experiencing a dental emergency…

When You Need An Emergency Dentist Vs. An Emergency Room

If an individual injures a tooth in an accident, an emergency room will be able to stop the bleeding but will not repair or even possibly be able to save the tooth itself. Therefore, once the individual can return home and leave the emergency room, the patient needs to call an emergency dentist. A dentist…

How To Fix A Chipped Tooth

A chipped tooth can happen due to many reasons including eating incredibly hard foods or using your teeth to open bottle crowns or packages (which you should avoid by the way). Whatever the cause is, one thing is sure about having a chipped tooth: It affects our smile, causes pain, and self-consciousness.Having your chipped tooth…

Reasons Your Teeth Could Be Aching

Toothaches are typically caused by tooth decay that has been neglected to the point that it causes considerable physical pain. But there are other reasons for tooth pain. Anything from excessive teeth grinding or clenching to gum disease, infection, trauma or an erupting tooth can cause a toothache.A tooth that has suffered physical trauma is…

Recent Posts

Getting A Dental Bridge With Your Supporting Teeth

Getting A Dental Bridge With Your Supporting Teeth

A dental bridge is an option for those who have lost teeth and need to fill in that space to complete their smile or bite. The procedure involves crowns being placed on supporting teeth (known as abutment teeth) that are fused with your missing tooth or teeth by what's called an implant post. The tooth-replacement…

Invisalign Treatment Can Align Your Teeth

Invisalign Treatment Can Align Your Teeth

Invisalign® treatment can be used to gradually align your teeth through plastic trays that your dentist changes every two weeks. As the teeth move, you will not need to wear the plastic trays anymore, and the results are clear, natural-looking teeth with healthy gums and fresh breath. In this article, we'll take an in-depth look…