An injury to your tooth or mouth can happen to anyone, even when you take good care of your oral health. If you experience a sudden toothache, discomfort, or damage to your smile, you should seek care as soon as possible. Your Sunny Smiles team is here today to explain what situations are considered urgent, and what can wait until your next checkup.
Injuries And Persistent Discomfort Should Be Treated Promptly
Generally, you should visit your dentist twice a year for a checkup. However, if you are experiencing an injury or feeling discomfort around your mouth, teeth, or tongue, you should come in for an urgent appointment. Problems such as sudden and persistent toothaches may be caused by cavities and can lead to an infection if they are left untreated. If you have injured a tooth, or it has been knocked out, your dentist can help restore or replace it when necessary. Concerns such as your gums or mouth bleeding, severe discomfort, or injuries to your mouth are dental emergencies and should be treated promptly.
How Our Team Can Help
It’s important to be prepared for an emergency because they can happen at any time. If you have experienced an injury to your tooth or mouth and are bleeding, you can place gauze or cloth to reduce the bleeding. Over-the-counter pain relievers can help improve your comfort. When you come in for your appointment, your dentist will examine your oral cavity and assess the injury. Your treatment plan will be determined based on the injury and your needs. Concerns such as a toothache may be caused by a cavity and can be corrected with a dental filling or root canal. If you have injured a tooth, a dental crown can be used to protect and restore the area.
Non-Urgent Concerns Can Be Addressed During Your Checkup
Your biannual checkup can help prevent many problems in the future. Instead of waiting for an emergency to come up, you should see your dentist twice a year for a cleaning and examination. During this appointment, the hygienist will thoroughly clean your teeth and gums. This can help get rid of plaque and reduce the chances of a cavity developing. You can also discuss concerns such as snoring, bruxism, and TMJ at your checkup. When you snore, you can disrupt your sleep cycle, wake up family members, and experience dry mouth which can lead to decay and gingivitis. These concerns can cause serious oral health problems if they are left untreated, but they are not necessarily urgent.
Call Us When You Need Urgent Dental Care
Concerns such as aches, infections, or long-lasting discomfort should not be put off. To schedule an emergency visit with our team, call Sunny Smiles Family Dentistry in El Paso, TX at 915.759.7000.