Just like any emergency matter, dental emergencies should not be taken lightly. After all, your oral health is highly important and not taking care of your teeth could lead to multiple illnesses, issues, and even fatal situations in the blink of an eye. This is why it is crucial that you always pay attention to the signs and come in sooner rather than later for a dental checkup.
However, to help determine what constitutes as a dental emergency, let’s analyze three of the most common dental emergencies out there and determine what exactly they mean for you and your oral health if they occur.
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Pain When Biting
Perhaps, one of the most common dental emergencies is “it hurts when I bite down.” There are countless reasons for this being the case and, in most situations, they aren’t good. The most common reasons for pain occurring when biting down are infections or cracked teeth. If you have an infection from not brushing properly or food being impacted into a cavity in the tooth, this can quickly turn into an infection that will be painful to deal with when eating or chewing. Similarly, with a cracked tooth, it will be highly difficult to eat without pain.
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Dental Abscess
According to the National Health Service, “A dental abscess is a collection of pus that can form inside the teeth, in the gums, or in the bone that holds the teeth in place. It’s caused by a bacterial infection.” With this being said, an abscess is typically what happens after a person ignores the pain when biting and lets the infection get worse.
However, in some cases, an abscess doesn’t even hurt, and you may not know about it until you feel pressure on that tooth or go to a dentist for a checkup. This is why it is highly important that you visit your dentist regularly as an abscess can lead to death if not properly treated.
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Wisdom Teeth
Lastly, the third most common dental emergency has to do with wisdom teeth. In many cases, wisdom teeth breaking through your gums can be seriously painful.
Fortunately, despite this being a common dental emergency, getting your wisdom teeth removed is not as difficult or stressful as it may seem and can relieve the pain in no time.
If you or a loved one are experiencing any signs that may indicate one of these dental emergencies in the Vista area, don’t hesitate to contact us today and find out what we can do for you and your oral health.