What Qualifies as a Dental Emergency?
Posted on April 22, 2025
Oral issues like severe tooth or gum pain, bleeding, swelling, or trauma that require immediate dental attention qualify as dental emergencies. However, not every dental issue is an SOS requiring an emergency dentist in Vaughan. So, how does one differentiate between a usual dental problem that can wait until morning and a dental emergency that might cost a tooth? Thankfully, Mackenzie Dental Centre offers complete family dentistry and emergency services. Our experienced dentists in Vaughan give a low-down on the what and how of dental emergencies.
Common Dental Emergencies
1. Severe Tooth Pain
Tooth decay, deep cavities, gum infections, and exposed nerves can all cause excruciating tooth pain. Do not ignore a severe toothache that’s accompanied by facial swelling and fever—contact an emergency dentist in Vaughan right away! You can try warm saline rinses and press an ice pack or cold compress on the swollen area outside the cheek till the time you get to your dentist.
2. Knocked-Out Tooth
Seek immediate care for a knocked-out tooth! Your best chance of saving it is reaching your dentist within an hour of the trauma(along with the tooth!) Knocked-out or avulsed teeth also damage supporting gum tissues and nerves, so timing is crucial. Gently clean the knocked-out tooth with cold milk and insert it back into the tooth socket. Be mindful not to touch its root. Otherwise, just keep the tooth moist by submerging it in milk to preserve its tissues and rush to a trusted emergency dentist in Vaughan.
3. Cracked or Broken Teeth
While a minor chipped tooth isn’t an emergency, severely cracked or fractured teeth qualify as one. Pain, sensitivity, and constant bleeding indicate that the tooth is damaged internally and externally. Use warm saline water to gently cleanse your mouth and manage the swelling with an ice pack/cold compress on the face. Contact Mackenzie Dental to see an experienced emergency dentist in Vaughan immediately.
4. Bleeding
Persistent gum or teeth bleeding, unlike the occasional bleeding from rigorous brushing, is a grave issue. Accompanying fever indicates a dental emergency that requires urgent oral care from a competent dentist.
What Is NOT a Dental Emergency?
The following do not qualify as a real dental emergency:
- Minor toothaches or sensitivity without abscesses can wait for a regular dental appointment.
- Lost fillings or crowns that are not uncomfortable can perhaps wait for a few days before seeing a dentist in Vaughan.
- Small tooth chips or cracks that don’t hurt are not an oral emergency. However, chipping can worsen, so make a dental appointment promptly.
What to Do in Dental Emergencies
- Keep Calm: Breathe deeply, avoid panicking, and focus on getting to your trusted dentist.
- Preserve Knocked-out Teeth: Clean the avulsed tooth gently with saline water or milk and dip it in cool milk to preserve the tissues and tooth roots.
- Manage Pain: Use your usual pain medication to control pain. Just avoid aspirin—it can aggravate the bleeding!
- Ice It: Keep the swelling down with an ice pack or compress.
SOS: Dental Emergency
Dental emergencies can strike anytime, and recognizing early symptoms can be the difference between a lost tooth and a saved one. So, take the above steps when facing a dental emergency like extreme pain, avulsed teeth, or swelling, and rush to a professional emergency dentist in Vaughan at your trusted Mackenzie Dental Centre. Dr. Pedvis and his skilled dental team have 30+ years of dental experience to provide the specialized dentistry services you deserve. Call now!
