Dental emergencies can be traumatic experiences that leave some people in shock. If you’re experiencing extreme pain or bleeding, you need to reach out to your doctor or dentist immediately.
Most dental emergencies are critical to address immediately, but they aren’t life-threatening. However, you need to be extra cautious about two types of dental emergencies. This includes uncontrollable bleeding and dental abscesses.
These types of emergencies are life-threatening. If you are experiencing either of these, get in touch with Life Dentistry now. Call 780-758-5433.
Uncontrollable Bleeding
If you start bleeding uncontrollably from your mouth, that is considered a life-threatening injury. Our mouths have blood vessels that can bleed significantly when damaged. Excessive bleeding can result in the following:
- Too much blood loss.
- Major breathing problems.
Usually, uncontrollable bleeding is caused by trauma, like an accident, that affects the hard and soft tissues in your mouth. However, if your gums are the source of the bleeding without trauma occurring, it could be a sign that you are experiencing a side effect of illness, like hypertension or diabetes.
Bleeding is considered a problem when it lasts several seconds or minutes without stopping.
Dental Abscess
A dental abscess is an infection that will form somewhere in your gums or around the root of your tooth. Dental abscesses should NEVER be taken lightly, and you should get treatment right away.
Common indicators of a dental abscess include:
- Swelling; usually in the gums, cheeks, neck, or lymph nodes.
- Foul odour or taste in your mouth.
- Sensitivity to hot or cold.
- A toothache that won’t go away.
When left alone, the infection causing the abscess can spread and can even cause sepsis. This is when your body has an extreme reaction to an infection that can lead to tissue damage, organ failure, and eventually death.
Other Dental Emergencies
Here’s the thing. Even if your dental emergency isn’t uncontrollable bleeding or a dental abscess, it’s still important to see a dentist immediately if you’re experiencing pain.
Other dental emergencies can include:
- Broken or cracked tooth.
- Knocked-out tooth.
- Unexplainable pain.
- Stuck object.
- Lost filling.
Call Life Dentistry @ 780-758-5433 if you need help immediately. You can also book an appointment here.
