5 Reasons for an Emergency Tooth Extraction
Posted on: 10 November 2021
The need for an emergency tooth extraction is one reason to call an emergency dentist. Knowing when the issue requires emergency intervention is necessary.
1. Severe Pain
Toothache pain can be one of the most severe types of pain you can feel. If you can alleviate much of the discomfort with the use of over-the-counter pain reducers like acetaminophen or a gum numbing gel from the chemist, then emergency extraction may not be needed and you can instead just schedule an appointment. If these options are insufficient, though, then you may need the tooth pulled immediately.
2. Infection
An infection cannot be ignored. Infections in the mouth can spread and affect other parts of the body, even to the point of compromising your cardiovascular health. If the gums around the problem tooth are red, inflamed and hot to the touch, then infection is likely. The presence of pus and fever are other signs of a dangerous infection. A dentist needs to perform an emergency extract and treat the infection to prevent it from spreading.
3. Tissue Damage
Injury to the mouth that severely damages the gum tissue may impact the ability to keep a tooth. If the gum has been badly torn up, your dentist may be able to perform emergency stitches to patch up the damage. Unfortunately, if the tissue damage has also caused damage to the root of the tooth, then the tooth will need to be extracted. Once the gums have healed, your dentist can guide you on tooth replacement options.
4. Impaction
Tooth impaction most commonly affects the wisdom teeth. Impaction occurs when there is insufficient space in the mouth for the tooth to come in, so it is stuck or impacted beneath another molar. Impaction is quite painful and it can lead to jaw problems if ignored. In some cases, impacted teeth require emergency removal if they have reached the point of extreme pain and jaw inflammation.
5. Breakage
A broken tooth is usually the result of outside trauma such as being hit or biting into something hard, but sometimes it can be due to tooth decay or weak teeth. If all parts of the broken tooth are above the gum line, an emergency removal may not be necessary and a standard appointment can be scheduled. When the tooth breaks down to or below the gum line, though, it needs to be removed immediately to avoid infection.
Contact an emergency dentist if you are experiencing severe dental pain.
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