When to Visit an Emergency Dentist in London? 10 Warning Signs

In a jostling metropolitan city like London, a dental emergency can strike you out of nowhere. Unless promptly treated, it can disrupt your normal work routine, causing you utmost distress. Therefore, it is crucial for you to understand when it time to seek medical help from an emergency dentist. Below is a list of top 10 warning signs that may prompt you to visit an emergency dental clinic – read on below.

1.    Severe toothache

A toothache appears as a sharp, throbbing pain that radiates across your jawbone and the whole face. This generally strikes suddenly, and can have a wide number of causes behind. For example, underlying infections, cavities, dental abscesses, etc. You may also experience an increased sensitivity in your teeth to high and low temperatures, and discomfort while biting on foods.

2.    Broken or fractured tooth

A high-impact fall involving severe jaw injury can lead to a broken tooth. It can also happen when you try to bite down on extremely hard foods. In either of the cases, the damaged tooth can cause excruciating pain, necessitating immediate emergency dental care and treatment. 

3.    Broken dentures

Broken dentures can result in significant discomfort, hampering your normal activities. You may not be able to eat, drink or speak properly, unless timely treatment is obtained. Even if your dentures are not completely damaged, minor damages like cracks or chips can also result in dental urgencies. An emergency dentist in London helps restore a broken denture, preventing unnecessary gum irritation. He can also recommend repairs and replacement procedures to ensure proper fit of the dentures.

4.    Knocked-out tooth

Losing a tooth can be very painful; however, quick action can increase the chances of preserving it. Various reasons like sports injury, sudden falls, road accidents, etc. can result in a knocked-out tooth. The critical window period for replacement is usually half-an-hour to two hours, post-incident. Such a situation makes it highly essential to find a reliable emergency dentist near you. 

5.    Dental abscess or infection

These develop mostly around rottened tooth roots and their surrounding gum tissue.  When left unchecked for long, dental abscesses can lead to serious underlying complications, prompting immediate medical help. Symptoms of a dental abscess involve excruciating pain in the gums and jawbone, high fever, foul odour in the mouth, facial swelling and pus formation. An emergency dentist helps prevent infection spread into other parts of the body by prescribing antibiotic courses, and pus drainage techniques.   

6.    Lost filling or crown

Fillings and crowns are important dental restorations that protect your damaged teeth from further decay. However, they can get loose or even fall out because of different factors, such as, wear and tear, accidental dental trauma, etc. Such scenarios expose your tooth, causing severe pain and discomfort, unless mended on time. By visiting an emergency dentist, you will be suggested with the best restorative treatment, involving replacement procedures.      A dentist will be able to evaluate the condition of the tooth and determine the best emergency dental treatments to restore it, whether they involve replacing the lost restoration or a longer course of treatment.

7.    Severe gum injury and bleeding

Gum injuries can happen due to several reasons, such as, violent brushing techniques, dental trauma, underlying gum disease, and so on. They mostly associate with symptoms, such as, swelling, redness, inflammation and bleeding (at times). To determine the exact cause of your issue, you must seek the help of a reliable emergency dentist. He can help prevent further damage of your gum tissue by administrating appropriate medicines and positive lifestyle approaches.  

8.    Oral damage due to accidents  

This mainly happens due to sport-related injury, accidents, oral lacerations, underlying infections, etc. Such damage requires prompt medical attention for recovery. An emergency dental professional helps assess the severity of your oral injury while recommending the most appropriate treatment for the same. Treatment procedures generally include dental restorative works, stitches, root canal treatment, and pain management medications. For cases when the tooth cannot be saved, a tooth extraction is recommended.

9.    Wisdom teeth problems

Also known as third molars, wisdom teeth can create various complications for certain individuals. These teeth grow at the extreme end of the mouth and become impacted due to shortage of space. Unless treated on time, wisdom teeth can result in extreme pain, swelling and potential infection risks. Thus, if you find yourself experiencing discomfort with your wisdom teeth, you must not delay and contact an emergency dentist for evaluation and appropriate treatment.   

10. Swelling and inflammation

Swelling in the mouth often indicates an underlying inflammation or dental abscess. So, if there is a sudden swelling in either side of your face or the gums, associated with high pain and fever, you must immediately appoint an emergency dentist to solve your issue. Some of the most common causes of dental swelling and infection include root infections, abscesses, allergic reactions, wisdom teeth eruptions, etc. An emergency dentist helps evaluate your situation better and provide optimal treatment measures to manage swelling.

Dental issues during pregnancy

Pregnancy is a challenging phase in a woman’s life and can bring several issues to their teeth. Hormonal changes faced during this period can significantly make the gums more vulnerable, leading to gum disease. Thus, if you are already pregnant and experiencing dental issues lately, schedule an emergency dentist visit as fast as possible. This will ensure the health of both the mother and her child.

Conclusion: When to visit a regular dentist vs. an emergency dentist?

It is very difficult to understand when to visit a general dentist and when to visit an trusted emergency dentist in London. Typically, common dental problems, like check-ups and small cavities, can be handled by your regular dentist. However, if you are facing intense pain, injury, or any of the concerns mentioned above, it is necessary to visit an emergency dental clinic.

With several private dental clinics in London now offering comprehensive emergency dental care services, you can obtain a dedicated team of dentists who are prompt in treating toothaches, cracked or broken teeth, knocked-out teeth, infections, etc. Book an appointment today.