Is a broken tooth an emergency?
If you are not bleeding, in extreme pain, or losing consciousness, it is easy to come to the conclusion that your health issue is not an emergency. The same can go with a broken tooth; it may not demonstrate the traditional signs of an emergency but it is important to consider it a priority. Not every broken tooth requires you to track down an emergency dentist in your area and seek treatment immediately, but you should not ignore it until your next dental appointment.
Depending on your broken tooth, you may immediately experience pain and sensitivity where the tooth broke and exposed the delicate nervous tissue inside the tooth. When your broken tooth pain can be managed with some over the counter medication, you can reach out to your dentist to make an appointment for treatment and exam promptly. Other times, if your tooth broke as the result of an injury or the pain is not tolerable, then you should be looking for that emergency dentist for an immediate appointment. Your broken tooth may require a same day appointment for treatment or you may need to go to an urgent care clinic or emergency room for medical treatment before seeing the dentist.
Knowing when to seek emergency treatment
Tooth fractures are one of the most common reasons why people go to an emergency dental appointment. In fact, most people break teeth when they are playing sports without wearing proper protective gear, falling unexpectedly, or eating hard foods. It may even be a food you have enjoyed many times, but it may just find the perfect weak point on your tooth when you bite down on the crunchy nibble. All this is to say, that there are no two tooth breaks that are the same and yours will be its own unique situation to address. The general rule of thumb when it comes to broken teeth is that they are all emergencies except for two kinds of breaks.
If your tooth has a minor fracture or is chipped, then there is no need to make an immediate appointment or rush to the emergency clinic. In these cases, your overall health is not endangered and your well-being will not be negatively affected. It is suggested that you still make an appointment with the dentist to address the minor fracture or chip, but the appointment does not need to override your other priorities or commitments.
When you experience a major tooth fracture, you will be able to instantly know that it is not a minor issue. Major fractures come with major pain and your tooth will be significantly altered from the break. Listen to your body’s pain signals and get immediate medical and/or dental treatment. If you delay or avoid treatment, you risk the chance of an infection in your remaining tooth or even one that can spread to your blood. As dental treatments become more complicated, they can cost more than the initial preventative treatments. Be sure to talk to the dentist at your next appointment to see what their suggestions are if you have a dental emergency.