Dental concerns can adversely impact your oral as well as overall health. Hence, irrespective of its severity or lack thereof, dental issues should never be ignored. However, some oral problems may require immediate attention in comparison to other trivial ones.

People try to avoid visits to an emergency dentist, McLean, out of fear of high expenses. However, ignoring dental issues can worsen the situation and may end up costing you more in the long run. Not to mention the corrective dental procedure can be painful and may disrupt your daily life.

Dental emergencies may occur due to various reasons. Some dental issues are caused by accidents, while others could be minor concerns that go unnoticed until they become severe.

In any case, the best way to deal with a dental emergency is to save the contact of an emergency dentist on your phone. Also, a first aid kit should be kept handy to provide temporary relief to the patient.

Some of the reasons that indicate that you need to visit an emergency dentist are as follows:

1. A chipped, broken, or knocked-out tooth

An accidental fall, prolonged tooth decay, or chewing on hard food items can cause chipped, broken, and knocked-out teeth. If you experience minor chipping of your tooth, you can wait until your next appointment.

However, if the chipping is accompanied by oral pain or bleeding, you need to call your emergency dentist McLean, at the earliest. Your dentist will use veneer, bond, or crown to restore your pearly whites.

In case of a broken tooth, you should preserve all the pieces in a glass of milk until your doctor’s visit. In case of the knocked tooth, it is preferable to put the tooth back into the socket.

2. Severe toothaches

Toothaches indicate tooth decay or gum inflammation and can be very uncomfortable. If you experience minor pain, you can wait until your next appointment. In such a case, home remedies can be an effective solution for pain relief.

However, if you experience severe and persistent pain, it’s time to contact an emergency dentist, McLean. An exposed nerve can cause severe pain and requires immediate attention.

Other signs that necessitate an emergency visit are tooth sensitivity, fever, and throbbing in the jaw, ear, or neck. The dentist will help ease the pain and will also diagnose the root cause of the issue.

3. Lost crown or filling

A lost crown or filling is often considered a trivial issue by many dental patients. However, it is a serious concern, and you need to visit a doctor at the earliest.

If you experience a metal-like taste in your mouth, it could be due to a loose crown or filling. Some patients may also experience pain when the crown comes off. Seeking immediate dental care will prevent further damage and save you from expensive dental procedures.

4. Bleeding gums

If you have been diagnosed with a gum infection, you may experience some bleeding. Also, flossing could be a possible cause of minor bleeding.

However, continuous and unexplained bleeding requires a visit to the emergency dentist, McLean. Other signs that can point towards a severe issue are pain and swelling.

5. Inflammation in the mouth or jaw

Swelling of your mouth and jaw indicates the possibility of underlying periodontal diseases. Infection and swollen lymph nodes are some of the reasons that cause gum inflammation. In very rare cases, it could be a result of cancer.

An emergency dentist can diagnose the underlying cause of the issue and provide relief to the patient. Along with swelling, some other symptoms that necessitate an emergency visit are fever, bad taste in your mouth, trouble in breathing and swallowing.

These are some of the reasons that may require an emergency visit to the dentist. An emergency dentist, McLean, may provide immediate pain relief and also help in avoiding expensive dental procedures in the long run.