Having an emergency of any kind can be nerve-racking and overwhelming. But the intense pain that comes with a sudden toothache or the panic of seeing one of your front teeth severely chipped can be shocking. Knowing who you can turn to for help during a dental emergency in Coralville, IA can not only give you a quicker path to relief; it can also be comforting just knowing what to do. Even if it has been a year since you have been to a dental appointment, having a trusted and experienced dentist that you are familiar with will add much needed comfort in a stressful emergency situation.

When it comes to a dental emergency, there are three different levels of urgency. For instance, if you are noticing that your gums are bleeding pretty regularly when you brush or floss and you are noticing red, inflamed, or sensitive gums, seeing the dentist as soon as possible is important to address this possible issue of gum disease. But this does not warrant a middle of the night phone call to your dentist, the way most emergencies seem to call for. Knowing what to do in the different levels of emergency dental situations will give you a game plan to follow.

Call your dentist immediately

If you notice symptoms like:

• Bleeding, red, or inflamed gums
• A dull throb in a tooth
• A sensitivity to hot or cold in your gums or teeth
• A chip even if it is not immediately painful
• Moderate mouth trauma that causes a tooth to turn gray
• Losing a dental crown or filling
• An occasional pain when chewing the comes and goes

These are the situations in which you should immediately call your dentist to schedule an appointment. Let the dental office know what you are experiencing so they can try to get you in as soon as possible. However, these are the types of dental emergencies that you can wait for your appointment that should take place in the next few days.

Dental emergencies

Emergency situations that need to be addressed the same or next day by your Coralville dentist include:

• Severe tooth pain
• A large chip that can possibly be reattached
• A cracked tooth that goes up into the gums
• An infection or abscess
• Dry socket after a tooth extraction

As with before, call your dentist immediately and report what you are experiencing, but in the above situations, call even if it is in the middle of the night. You will get an answering service if you call after hours, but they are able to contact your dentist if the situation calls for it.

Medical emergency situations

As with any other injury, a dental emergency that is life-threatening such as:

• Swelling, infection, or abscess that is affecting breathing
• Fractured or dislocated jaw
• Deep cuts in the mouth with uncontrollable bleeding
• Facial fractures affecting airways

If you are experiencing anything like this, please call 9-1-1 or quickly make your way to the nearest hospital.

In Coralville, IA, if you are having a dental emergency that needs to be addressed this week or sooner, give the trusted team at Coral West Dental a call today.