How to Tell Whether Your Dental Emergency Is Urgent

Knowing the difference between an urgent and non-urgent dental emergency can mean the difference between saving and losing your tooth. That’s why it’s important for you to know whether your situation warrants an immediate call to your emergency dentist in Edison or if it can wait a couple of days. To help you out, read this blog post on how to tell the difference between an urgent and non-urgent dental emergency.

Urgent Dental Emergencies

If you experience any of the following situations, it’s best to contact your dentist right away:

• Knocked-out tooth. Once a tooth has been knocked out, you only have about an hour to see your dentist before the tooth is no longer able to be re-implanted.
• Broken tooth. Even if your tooth is only mildly chipped and there is no pain, you should still contact your dentist just in case. A broken tooth is more easily infected, and you’re going to need some kind of treatment to protect it, such as a dental crown.
• Severe If your tooth pain prevents you from eating, sleeping, or living your daily life, then you might have a serious infection deep within the tooth that requires emergency treatment.
• Pimple-like bump on the gums. Whatever you do, do NOT attempt to pop the bump like you would a pimple. This bump is usually an abscess that needs serious and immediate treatment.

Non-Urgent Dental Emergencies

The following emergencies can usually wait a few days for treatment:

• Lost filling, crown, or bridge. To protect your underlying tooth in the meantime, you can wash off the restoration and temporarily reattach it with toothpaste, dental wax, or sugar-free chewing gum.
• Dull toothache. If your toothache doesn’t interfere with your day-to-day life, then it can wait a few days for treatment. You can take over-the-counter pain relievers until then.
• Food lodged between teeth. Sometimes you get a popcorn husk or other type of food stuck in between your teeth and you can’t get it out, not even with dental floss. Eventually, it could lead to an infection if you don’t get it treated, but you can wait a couple of days.

If you are experiencing any of the situations, you should call your dentist in Edison, regardless of whether it’s urgent. Getting the care that you need right away could save you valuable time and money.

About the Author

Dr. David Rosenfeld is a graduate of the Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery in New York City. He has earned a Fellowship in the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, so in the event that you lose your tooth, he can replace it himself. Because of COVID-19, his practice is only treating emergency patients. If you are suffering from any of the emergencies described above, give his office a call at (908) 668-7838.