Emergency Dentist 24/7 Altamonte Springs, FL

Having an emergency dental issue can be scary and painful. A knocked-out tooth or an insufferable toothache can change your life in a matter of minutes. Luckily, there are dentists open on weekends who can handle your dental emergency with quality care. Therefore, you do not have to wait until Monday to seek treatment; you can get your problem resolved right away.

The Emergency Dental Service is a reliable service that can set you up an appointment with an emergency dentist should you need one. It is better to seek immediate treatment for your dental emergency rather than wait and suffer the consequences. If you are in Florida, for example, Altamonte Springs, Florida Contemporary Dental Care is one option to take care of your emergency dental needs.

When to Visit an Emergency Dentist

You may be wondering if your mouth issue is a dental emergency or if it can wait until Monday. Unlike a bothersome dental issue, a dental emergency is one that must be treated by a dentist to avoid serious complications. In some cases, a dental emergency may even be life-threatening. The following are dental issues that may require a weekend dentist:

• A toothache causing severe, unrelenting pain and doesn’t go away with pain medication
• A badly cracked tooth
• A tooth that has fallen out
• A severe abscess that causes serious facial swelling
• Broken or lost teeth restorations
• Severe soft tissue injuries
• An aspirated tooth
• Severe bleeding that will not subside

If you are experiencing any of these issues, you should seek immediate help. Even if you think you can endure the pain, your issue could be serious and can cause complications in the future. For instance, you could have an infection that spreads or experience permanent tooth loss. In these situations it is better to contact a dentist open on Saturdays or Sundays rather than wait.

When to Schedule a Weekday Appointment

Dental issues can sometimes be vague in terms of their severity. While the aforementioned symptoms are clear emergencies, sometimes dental issues can wait until the next business day. In these cases, you can save time and money by treating the issue at home and making an appointment with your dentist at a later date. The following are examples of dental issues that can be treated at home or at your next dental appointment:

• If you have an item stuck between your tooth
• If you have dull or minor tooth pain
• If you have bleeding that subsides with at-home treatment
• If you have broken braces that do not cause pain or swelling
• If you have a small crack in your tooth
• If you have a cavity that is not painful or sensitive

While these issues are not emergencies, in some cases, you should still contact your dentist at your earliest convenience and make your appointment. These problems can wait to be treated but can become bigger issues if you wait too long. Still, they are not dental emergencies and do not require immediate treatment.

Emergency Dental Care: Common Causes

There are a myriad of causes for dental emergencies, which can occur unexpectedly or are due to underlying or existing issues. However, they most commonly occur because of sporadic instances. Many of these examples cause a tooth or teeth to be dislodged or broken, and they include:

• Participating in sports or extreme activities
• Jobsite accidents
• Motor vehicle accidents
• Slip and fall accidents
• Chewing hard or viscous food
• Using your teeth inappropriately (opening cans or bottles)
• Getting into a fight that leads to mouth trauma

With the exception of using your teeth inappropriately, many of these situations cannot be avoided. However, there are certain situations in which an emergency arises from dental care neglect. They include:

• Decaying teeth
• Untreated gum disease, toothaches, or abscess
• Neglecting to fill a cavity

Finally, there are times when dental emergencies are caused by medical conditions like diabetes, kidney disease, or temporomandibular disorders. Even pregnancy, because of the change in hormones, can lead to dental issues like gum disease that can be exacerbated if left untreated.

How to Prevent Emergency Dental Issues

A dental emergency can disrupt a fun weekend, a romantic getaway with your partner, or time with your kids. While some emergencies are unavoidable, in some situations, there are steps you can take to avoid a dental emergency in the future. Detailed below are a few examples.

Maintain Your Oral Health

The best way to prevent a dental emergency is to take care of your teeth and mouth at home. Brushing twice daily and flossing consistently can go a long way in preventing oral health issues. Further, electric toothbrushes are recommended because of their coverage and built-in timers. In addition, you should replace your toothbrush every couple of months to avoid bacteria building up or using a worn and ineffective toothbrush.

Maintain a Healthy Diet

Your diet is a significant factor when it comes to your oral health. Everything that goes into your body must enter through your mouth. Therefore, keeping your body healthy may also keep your mouth healthy. It is also important to reduce your sugar intake, as too much sugar can cause cavities and other oral issues. You should also avoid highly acidic food and drinks to avoid weakening your enamel.

Keep Hydrated

Saliva in your mouth plays an important role in maintaining a healthy pH balance. Staying hydrated helps your body produce saliva, which is needed to wash away excess food bacteria and prevent decay.

Wear Protective Gear

It is important to play sports or exercise to maintain optimal health. Moreover, it is equally important to protect yourself while you are engaging in these activities. It is very easy to be struck in the mouth while participating in sports, which could cause your tooth to be dislodged, cracked, or broken, sometimes beyond repair. Wearing gear such as a helmet or mouth guard can go a long way in preventing these issues.

Avoiding Chewing Non-Food Items

Besides certain medications, your teeth should be used to chew food and food only. Some people have mouth fixations that cause them to chew on non-food items that can sometimes be hard or viscous. While it may be tempting or satisfying, chewing certain items can cause serious damage to your teeth and can even break them if you are chewing something too hard. If you need medical treatment for your oral fixation, it may be beneficial rather than risking losing a tooth.

Altamonte Springs, Florida Contemporary Dental Care Services

Emergency Dental Service can assist you with finding a range of dental services that suit your needs. Whether you need an emergency cavity filling or a tooth extraction, we are happy to assist you. Depending on your emergency, you may need one or more of the following services:

• Tooth fillings. A cavity is a very common dental problem that usually occurs over time but can become an emergency issue. A cavity is a tiny hole in a person’s tooth that results from acid erosion. While most cavities can be filled by making an appointment, if the pain is too severe, it may warrant an emergency visit. A dentist open on Saturday or Sunday can fill the hole with a silver or tooth colored material so you can get back to your life.
• Dental bridge or crown repairs. A dental crown is similar to a cavity, but instead of a filling, it is a cap that sits atop broken, decayed, or fragile teeth. Most crown repairs can be done on a weekday, but if yours falls out over the weekend, you may want to contact a weekend dentist to help repair it.
• Denture repairs. Dentures are artificial teeth with the structure, function, and appearance of natural teeth. They help people eat, speak, and chew properly. Dentures require the same maintenance as natural teeth, so if they become damaged or broken, they should be repaired immediately so you can have a confident smile and be able to use your normal oral functions.
• Dental implant repairs. Dental implants are similar to dentures, except they may only replace a few broken or decayed teeth instead of an entire set of teeth. They are also more solid than dentures, which can be taken in and out of your mouth with ease. Sometimes dental implants become loose or get fractured, and that is when you should promptly get them repaired to avoid exposing decayed teeth to further harm.
• Root canals. A root canal is a fairly common but more serious tooth surgery that requires treating diseased teeth. When the pulp of your teeth becomes infected by bacteria, you may require a root canal that involves clearing the bacteria, cleaning your teeth, and sealing your teeth to prevent further damage. You will know you need an emergency root canal because you may have chipped teeth, experience sensitivity to hot or cold food items or drinks, and you may even notice small pimples along your gums.
• Tooth extractions. Sometimes, your tooth simply needs to be extracted. For example, if you experience excessive gum bleeding or intense pain from a problem tooth, it may be a sign that it needs to be extracted to prevent permanent nerve or tissue damage. Similarly, if you have a loose tooth in your mouth, you may need it extracted to prevent aspiration or swallowing it accidentally.
• Impacted wisdom teeth. Wisdom teeth erupt at around age 20 and are the hindmost molars or teeth in the back of your mouth. If your wisdom tooth is impacted, or it doesn’t fully erupt, it can be incredibly painful and cause severe swelling or even infection. This may lead to a dental emergency that requires immediate treatment.

What to Expect at Your Appointment

An emergency dental appointment is similar to a regular dental appointment in many ways. The biggest difference is that you may experience shorter wait times and may require medical care in addition to dental care. At your emergency dental appointment, you may have to fill out a patient intake form that asks questions about your current condition as well as medical history. These questions can help ascertain the underlying issue and help the doctor avoid administering certain medications.

If your dental emergency involves bleeding or severe pain, the dentist will administer treatment to ease these symptoms before treating the root cause and resolving the issue. They may also need to take an X-ray at your appointment and in some cases, they may have to do an emergency surgery.

It is important to understand that a dental emergency is different from a medical emergency; therefore, you should visit an emergency dentist instead of an emergency room (ER) if you are experiencing problems with your oral health.

While an ER doctor can treat your immediate symptoms, such as bleeding and pain, most ERs are not equipped with the dental instruments or materials necessary to help your specific issue. Therefore, it is wise to go straight to an emergency dentist if you are experiencing symptoms like a toothache, a dislodged tooth, or a lost dental crown instead of rushing to an ER.

Cost of Emergency Dental Care

It may come as no surprise that the cost of a dental emergency may be more expensive than a regular appointment. This is similar to an emergency room visit being more expensive than a doctor’s office visit. However, it is important to seek immediate treatment anyway, as waiting can not only be problematic for your health, but it can be more expensive in the long run if you experience permanent tooth damage or require surgery.

Contact Emergency Dental Service Today

Experiencing a dental emergency can be considerably painful and even emotionally stressful. Imagine showing up to an interview or other social situation with dislodged or severely cracked teeth. This can lead to social isolation and a lack of confidence. Further, if left untreated, it can lead to serious complications, such as infections that spread to other parts of the body, severe, lingering pain, or permanent tooth loss.

Fortunately, finding an emergency dentist in Altamonte Springs, Florida, is not difficult, especially if you contact Emergency Dental Service online or at 1-888-350-1340. If you need a dentist open on weekends, our quality, experienced, and professional dentist offices are open 24/7.