Do you know a dental emergency when you see one? We’d all like to think that we’d be as cool as cucumbers in a crisis, but who knows for sure how we’ll react in the heat of the moment. While it’s impossible to prepare entirely for the unexpected, it’s possible not to be caught completely unawares by things that come out of the blue. Here’s a back-of-the-envelope guide to scenarios that are dental emergencies and a few more that probably are not emergencies.
These are emergencies
If any of these things happen, contact an emergency dentist in Aspen as soon as possible:
● You’ve lost a tooth, but if you can find it and get to the dentist fast enough you might be able to keep it
● You’re experiencing severe pain that is far from a normal and occasional toothache
● You’ve got the classic signs of infection: swelling and fever, and maybe a foul taste in your mouth
● Your teeth are loose, which is never a good sign and is something to ask an emergency dentist near you about as soon as possible
● Your mouth is bleeding and you can’t explain why, which often means there’s something that you can’t see or that you aren’t aware of. That’s exactly the situation when you want advice from an emergency dentist near you.
These are probably not emergencies
Some of these things may be stressful and even urgent, but they’re things that can wait until regular office hours to give your usual dentist a call. Having said that, if you are particularly anxious or concerned there is absolutely no harm in calling an emergency dentist. Trust your instinct and trust the expertise of the emergency dentist on the other end of the line. Subject to what they might tell you, these three scenarios are not usually emergencies:
● You’ve suffered a broken tooth unless you’ve also suffered damage to the inside of your mouth or you’re in extreme pain. But call your Aspen dentist when they open again.
● You’ve suffered a chipped tooth unless you’re in extreme pain. But call your dentist when they open up again
● You’ve lost a filling or crown, but don’t wait too long before calling your usual Aspen dentist. The longer you live without your filling or crown the bigger the risk that bacteria will penetrate that tooth that was previously protected by the restoration that was lost
Most mid-sized and large municipalities, including Aspen, have dentists available to help you respond to emergencies and to provide emergency treatment after hours. Do yourself and your family a favour and find the phone number of a dentist near you. Post that number on the fridge and put it into the phone of all the responsible adults in your household. The last thing you want to have to be doing in the case of a dental emergency is scrambling around for a phone number or address.
Remember that these guidelines are just that — guidelines that are written in a moment not filled with anxiety and panic about what just happened and what happened next. What constitutes an emergency in any given moment depends on a large number of factors, including who is experiencing the situation and their ability to remain calm even without professional support. When in doubt, call an emergency dentist. If you’re not certain if what you’re dealing with is an emergency, ask them. They’re the experts and you can trust their judgment.