What Constitutes a Dental Emergency?

Suppose the site of your recent tooth extraction has started to bleed, and you can’t seem to stop it. Or your family’s get-together results in a knocked-out tooth. Both cases require immediate attention, and a good Cincinnati family dentist is there to give you the care you need.

But when is the need for dental care an emergency, and how should you respond? We’ll discuss what constitutes a dental emergency and explain the different types.

What is a Dental Emergency?

You might think of an emergency as a life-threatening event. The American Dental Association (ADA) defines dental emergencies as life-threatening situations requiring immediate treatment to stop bleeding, alleviate infection, or relieve severe pain.

If you’re wondering if your dental issue is truly an emergency, a good rule of thumb is if you have bleeding that doesn’t stop, broken facial bones, or pain that won’t go away with medication. The following issues typically require emergency care:

Infectious Dental Emergencies

Almost all infectious dental emergencies originate from cavities, where bacteria can thrive and invade the internal components of the tooth. If you catch them early, they are relatively easy to localize and treat.

If you don’t get attention for an infected tooth soon enough, the infection could spread to other parts of the mouth or beyond, including the sinuses, the neck, or your brain. A runaway infection can be life-threatening and obstruct the airway.

Post-Procedural Bleeding

Tooth extractions are the most common source of post-procedural bleeding. A bleed lasting longer than eight to twelve hours after a procedure warrants attention. Patients with bleeding disorders or those taking anticoagulation medications are particularly susceptible to post-procedural bleeding. It’s important to take care of this type of emergency to avoid severe blood loss, a compromised airway, or other complications.

Traumatic Dental Emergencies

Trauma to the mouth may result in far more than just repairing a cracked filling. Besides tooth fractures, trauma emergencies include luxation (the dislocation of a bone from its original position in a joint) and avulsion (total displacement of the tooth from the socket). Trauma emergencies typically result from struck-by injuries, falls, car accidents, physical violence, or sports injuries. Failure to treat a traumatic injury can allow infection to set in.

Issues Requiring Urgent Care

Not all oral health situations are life-threatening but may require timely intervention. In contrast to a dental emergency, a dental urgency involves immediate management of severe pain or the risk of infection, situations that don’t require a visit to a hospital emergency room. Dental urgencies typically require less invasive procedures than most emergencies, and treatment often helps prevent aesthetic or functional complications.

One common type of dental urgency is alveolar osteitis, also called “dry socket,” and sometimes occurs after an extraction. Patients with this condition may experience severe pain at the extraction site, usually because the empty socket exposes the alveolar bone, which slows down healing. The pain can be persistent and require more than one dental visit for relief of symptoms.

Treatment for Cracked Teeth and Other Emergencies Close to Home

Without immediate attention, a dental emergency can progress to more a serious complication, such as tooth loss or the spread of infection. If you have an emergency or urgency, it’s critical that you contact your dentist right away to get treated. That’s why the Beckham Square Family Dental staff have spots open specifically for emergencies. You can reach their office at 513.489.7800.