In certain dental health conditions patients may expect an urgent intervention of a dental professional. Whereas an oral health practitioner may consider certain cases as dental emergencies. In the midst of these two types of dental conditions it is important to have some idea about a dental emergency and an urgent dental condition.
The differences between a dental emergency and an urgent dental condition
In a dental emergency you are in a life-or-death condition; it is potentially life threatening and that is why in a dental emergency. You need immediate care and attention from a qualified expert to lessen your pain or avoid complications in future.
On the other hand, an urgent dental condition, it is not exactly a matter of life and death. You just need immediate care and attention to get relief from acute pain and discomfort as well as to avoid complications in future.
Typical examples of dental emergency include treatments to stop bleeding from the mouth. Minimise unbearable pain and treat any infection in the oral cavity. Cases of uncontrolled bleeding from the mouth, any trauma to the face, a broken tooth and tooth abscess are some of the best examples of dental emergency.
Examples of urgent dental condition include swollen or bleeding gums, loose or shifting teeth, persistent pain in the tooth that continues over a week, sensitivity in the tooth, the mouth going dry, persistent sores or lesions developing in the mouth, pain in the jaw or clicking, unpleasant taste in the mouth and persistent bad breath, etc.
While suffering from a dental emergency you can walk straight into the A&E room of any hospital to get the basic treatment to save your life other than a dentist’s office or any urgent care facility.
Defining dental emergency in easy words
A 24 hour dentist in London explains there are certain typical conditions in which even patients feel they need immediate attention and treatment. Like visible damage to the teeth or the mouth and severe pain in the tooth or the gums. It is meaningful to say that a dental emergency is a problem related to the teeth or the overall mouth. That is likely to threaten the life or existence of a patient. That requires immediate treatment and attention to minimise the chances of any serious complication. While at the same time preventing any long-term damage to the oral health of the patient.
Severe cases that come under the category of dental emergency include uncontrolled bleeding from the mouth or dental hemorrhage. Resulting from tooth extraction, gradually increasing swelling in the mouth that affects the throat or the eyes. And any trauma that affects the dental arches. In addition to that conditions like severe infection in the soft tissues inside the mouth and any acute pain in the mouth. Or the face which does not get reduced by over-the-counter medicines are also considered as dental emergencies.
Conditions that are not any dental emergency
Now that we have got some basic idea about dental emergencies. It is also important to know the conditions that are not considered as dental emergency. Certain dental conditions can cause considerable discomfort – like a chipped tooth, mild pain in the tooth or the gum, lost filling and others. Each of these conditions qualify you to consult a dentist and also get your diagnosed by the expert. But none of the conditions come under the category of dental emergency.
There are certain conditions that can be treated. Following minor damage to the natural tooth structure and these conditions do not qualify as dental emergency. Qualified professionals working in a renowned dental clinic in London identify some of those conditions as following –
- A chipped tooth for which the treatment includes simply smoothing and polishing.
- A chip that is medium in size and brings minor damage to the enamel of the tooth can either be treated with crown or a filling. These dental restorations are placed over the damaged tooth to help the tooth restore both its appearance and actual functionality.
- However, chips that are larger are considered as a dental emergency when the inner nerve chamber of the tooth gets exposed. This kind of cases usually requires a root canal or RCT to clear away the damaged nerve. In the next step the tooth is restored and reinforced using a dental crown or cap.
A common cause for dental emergencies
One of the common causes behind dental emergency cases is a sudden onset of decay in a tooth. In such it is often found that the root issues were present since much longer than the sudden onset of decay of the tooth structure.
Ideally you should go for a routine dental check up with your dentist every six months. When you attend routine check-up sessions every six months. Then it becomes both possible and easier for the oral health expert to identify and treat such issues before they turn serious.
But according to one of the best dentists in London most people are reluctant to go for routine checkups and thus even a simple issue, turns complicated with time and becomes something more than serious. One of the best examples in this context is the problem of caries in the tooth or tooth decay.
This problem can be efficiently treated with filling which is a simple procedure. But as the problem is left ignored and unattended in course of time it gradually affects the inner structures of the tooth. And may lead to complications like a dental abscess. Now a dental abscess is much more painful, the treatment itself takes a much longer time for complete recovery. And the overall cost of the treatment goes up too obviously.
There is no other way to say it – dental phobia is more of a psychological issue than anything else. It proves harmful for a large number of people when oral healthcare is concerned. As far as the UK is concerned dental phobia proves to be a serious dampener in achieving sound oral health. According to the findings of the Oral Health Foundation nearly half the adult Britons have some kind of dental phobia. Or the other which stop them from going to dentists on time. Out of this large number of people at least 12 out of every 100 are known to suffer from some kind of dental severity or the other.
Piccadilly Dental is one of the best places in London for dental patients who suffer from dental phobia or anxiety. Dentists and the support staffs here possess the necessary skills and experience to handle the category of patients easily. This private oral health practice is located on the Shaftsbury Avenue and stays open from 10 in the morning till 6 in the evening every weekday. Feel free to book your appointment now!