When Do You Need To Seek Urgent Dental Care?

Delaying treatment could have long term implications for your teeth and gums.

Hopefully, all of our patients understand the importance of having regular six monthly appointments with a dentist and hygienist in order to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Providing that you look after your teeth and gums well in the period between appointments, there is a good chance that you will not need to have any treatment following your next check up.

While this is an excellent strategy, it doesn’t mean that things can’t go wrong in the meantime. A drop in cleaning standards (perhaps if you have been ill for a while) or an accident, could mean that your teeth should be examined and treated long before your next appointment is due.

We know that some patients might be inclined simply to wait for their next check up, especially if it is just a few weeks away. We strongly advise against this however, as any damage to a tooth can cause it to weaken and it may suffer further, and possibly extensive, damage in the meantime.

So what signs should patients of The Dental Centre Bedford look out for that indicates that they should call us for an urgent appointment?

Toothache

Anyone that has woken up with a ‘screaming toothache’ will certainly be calling us as soon as possible to have it looked at. This isn’t always the case though when the discomfort is relatively minor, perhaps with just a mild throbbing sensation. The fact is that even if it doesn’t hurt too much, any discomfort almost certainly means that something is wrong. If this is not treated and you decide to manage any discomfort with pain killers, there is every chance that any decay will spread and worsen and any breakages or cracks will weaken the tooth and may break off altogether. Any level of pain or discomfort should be a warning sign that it is time to call our Bedford dentist for an emergency appointment.

Sensitivity

Similar to the above, if you find yourself wincing in pain or notice any discomfort when you eat or drink hot or cold food or drink, there is a chance that the enamel on your teeth has been damaged. This might have been from a knock a tooth has had that has cracked the enamel, or it could simply have gradually eroded away, perhaps due to a high acidity diet or even brushing your teeth too hard over a period of time. In either case, you should call us to have this looked at. Any ‘breach’ of the tooth enamel means that bacteria can enter, and if it does, tooth decay or even root canal infections may well follow.

Sore or bleeding gums

Most of us pay attention to our teeth but are perhaps less inclined to do so to our gums. Too few of us are likely to pay attention to them when we brush, and only around one in five of us uses dental floss. This means that there is a high risk of gum disease (and if you smoke, it is even higher!). There are a number of common symptoms of gum disease which includes bleeding or sore gums, wobbly teeth, pus between the gums etc. It should be noted though that gum disease can also be ‘silent’ and it is important for you to see the hygienist for a professional clean every six months or as advised. Failure to do so could lead to not only uncomfortable gums but potentially loss of teeth if periodontitis takes hold. If you notice any unusual symptoms though, you should contact us straight away.

Wobbly teeth

As mentioned above, if you have wobbly teeth, this could be a sign of gum disease, assuming that your teeth haven’t taken a blow recently, from a football for example. Gum disease affects not only the gums but can also affect the bone that supports the teeth, gradually causing the bone to degrade. As it does this, the tooth starts to work loose and may fall out if not treated promptly. If you notice that a tooth has become wobbly, don’t take your chances and just keep your fingers crossed, give us a call and explain and we will try to arrange a prompt appointment for you to be seen.

Minor damage (with no pain)

What about if you damage a tooth but there is no pain involved? For example, you might chip off a small piece from the corner of the tooth. This may not hurt but you should still contact us straight away. Without examining it, you can’t be certain that it hasn’t weakened the structure of the tooth, potentially leading to further breakage. It also needs to be examined to determine whether the dentin layer beneath it has been exposed. If this is the case, then it is important for it to be treated to prevent infection reaching the inner part of the tooth. Finally, a tooth chipped in this way can spoil an otherwise attractive smile and may also cause some scratching or cutting of the soft oral tissues such as the cheeks or tongue.

It is never a good idea to delay having a dental problem seen by one of our team. At best, you might be given the all clear and not need treatment. At worst, you might need restorative treatment to prevent more serious problems from occurring. Sometimes, minor treatment is all that is needed. In the case of the chipped tooth edge, for example, this could be built up using cosmetic bonding to give it a smooth edge and a natural look.

If you have any problems, please don’t delay and call us today. You can contact us by calling The Dental Centre Bedford on 01234 819868.