When people hear the phrase “dental emergency”, they often think of a traumatic oral injury, like a tooth cracking during a slip or a fall, or the loss of a tooth during a car accident or while playing a contact sport. While these situations do count as dental emergencies, there are many other oral health issues that also fall under this category.
At Golden Gate Dental, we define a dental emergency as any oral health issue that is causing you serious pain and discomfort, and that you cannot treat on your own. Here are 3 common oral health issues that count as a dental emergencies:
Toothaches
Toothaches usually develop due to an infection that has caused serious decay and destroyed the exterior enamel and dentin of the tooth. If a toothache is not treated with root canal therapy, the infection will progress and cause serious pain and discomfort, eventually leading to tooth loss.
If you have a toothache that lasts for more than a day or two, it’s an emergency. It’s very important to get in touch with an experienced dentist, such as Dr. Sosis, to ensure that it’s taken care of before you lose your tooth. This is the best way to relieve pain and get your life back to normal.
Damaged Or Pulled-Out Dental Work (Fillings, Crowns, Etc.)
This is the most common kind of dental emergency. Fillings and crowns typically don’t last forever, and if you tend to eat gummy candies and sticky foods, they can become attached to the food, and pulled out of your tooth when you chew.
Fillings, crowns, and other dental work can also be damaged by impact injuries, and they can even fall out from normal wear and tear. If your filling, crown, or any other piece of dental work falls out, this is a dental emergency. The vulnerable tooth structure that the prosthetic was protecting will be exposed, which could cause infection or damage.
Come see Dr. Sosis right away to get your filling, crown, or other prosthetic reattached.
Advanced Cases Of Gum Disease
Gum disease often goes unnoticed until it becomes quite severe. Any case of gum disease that progresses past gingivitis (the least serious stage of the disease) is a dental emergency.
Symptoms like bad breath, loosening or shifting of the teeth, pus in the mouth, serious oral bleeding when brushing the gums, and other such symptoms are signs that you need immediate periodontal care.
Without the right periodontal care, you could lose one, several, or all of your teeth. If you suspect you may have gum disease, contact us before it’s too late.
Get The Help You Need – Understand Emergency Dental Issues!
Emergency dentistry includes much more than just standard dental injuries. Any dental issue that’s causing you pain and discomfort should be addressed right away. At Golden Gate Dental, Dr. Sosis always has emergency dental appointments available. Schedule your appointment for emergency dentistry in San Francisco by giving us a call at (415) 367-3444, or stop by our office for a walk-in appointment, at 3200 Fulton St, San Francisco, CA 94118.