Dental Emergencies in Nashua, NH: How to Find Immediate Care

Dental emergencies can be extremely common, but not every situation should be considered a dental emergency.Serious dental injuries can result in more serious health problems if not taken care of immediately. This includes situations that require treatment to alleviate extreme pain, an abscess or persistent swelling, excessive bleeding, or cases where teeth are at the risk of being lost.

Common dental emergencies

Unexplainable Toothache

Toothaches are truly a pain. They may be a sign of an oral infection, such as tooth decay. When tooth decay is extensive, it can cause more serious symptoms such as swelling.

Swollen or Bleeding Gums

Inflamed gums are characterized by bleeding, redness, swelling, and tenderness. When occurring excessively and frequently, this can be a sign of periodontal disease, a severe form of gum disease. If left untreated, this can lead to the systemic spread of oral bacteria, bone loss, and eventual tooth loss.

Swollen Jaw or Mouth

Swelling in the head, neck, and oral region can indicate a severe infection that can be life-threatening. It may be caused by a tooth abscess, which constitutes a true dental emergency.

Exposed Nerves

Exposed nerves can be extremely painful, and requires the expertise of a dental professional for treatment. Immediate treatment is necessary to prevent more nerve damage, pain, the spread of infection, and other issues.

Knocked-Out Tooth

Accidents happen, and if your tooth happens to be knocked out in one, it is important to seek help immediately. In some instances, if the tooth is replanted into the socket quickly by a dental professional, the tooth may be able to be saved. Avoid touching the root and place it in a carrying medium such as milk or saline as you make your way to the dentist.

Missing Filling

If your filling comes out, your tooth is left exposed to oral bacteria that can cause infection throughout the mouth. It can also put your tooth at increased risk of fracturing.

Broken Crown

Like a broken filling, a broken crown leaves your tooth vulnerable to infection and injury. It is important to seek immediate dental help to avoid needing additional procedures such as a root canal or tooth extraction.

Abscessed Tooth

A tooth abscess resembles a pimple-like swelling in the oral cavity. An abscessed tooth requires immediate attention for treatment from a medical professional to prevent the infection from spreading and creating other health complications.

Food/Object Lodged Between Teeth

If you are unable to dislodge an object or food between teeth, this may require the immediate help of a dentist. If left untreated, it can result in your teeth shifting, tooth decay, gum swelling, gum disease, infection, or other problems.

Infections

Dental infections are serious and necessitate immediate dental care. You may experience pain, tooth sensitivity, bad breath or taste in the mouth, swelling in the face or jaw, fever, and other symptoms.

Statistics on Dental health in Nashua

• Oral health is a major part of maintaining overall health, which is why we must all do our parts to address oral health issues when they arise.
• Issues like gum disease, which includes both gingivitis and periodontal disease, impact many Americans. In fact, according to Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General , 14% of adults aged 45 to 54 and 23% of adults aged 65 to 74 experience severe periodontal disease.
• According to the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (NH DHHS), 7,199 of Nashua’s residents visited the emergency department due to dental issues from 2003 to 2009.

Treatments for Common Dental Emergencies

Toothache

Toothaches may be caused by tooth decay, also known as a cavity. If tooth decay is present, your dental professional may recommend a dental filling, crown restoration, root canal, or even tooth extraction depending on the severity of the decay.

Chipped or broken teeth

Chipped or broken teeth could be a result of many causes, including chewing on something hard, trauma, teeth grinding, clenching, or decay. Your dentist may recommend a dental filling, crown, or veneers to repair chipped or broken teeth. If severe, tooth extraction may be necessary.

Knocked-out tooth

Trauma to the mouth can result in a knocked-out tooth. In some instances, a tooth can healthily be re-inserted into its position if done in a timely manner. Contact your dentist immediately, and your dentist will determine if the tooth can be saved.

Lost filling or crown

Losing a filling or crown requires immediate attention, as oral bacteria can damage the exposed tooth and create many issues. Your dentist will remove any decay and infection, and then replace the lost dental restoration.

Broken orthodontics

If an orthodontic appliance breaks, such as brackets or wires, your dental professional will help address any pain and replace them.

Abscess

Your dentist may prescribe antibiotics along with draining the abscess and performing a root canal to fight a dental abscess.

Bleeding and pain after a tooth extraction

Bleeding and slight discomfort are normal the first day or so after a tooth extraction. Yet, if excessive bleeding or extreme pain occurs, your dentist may apply pressure with gauze to the site of the tooth extraction, or flush out the socket and add medicated dressings.

Dental trauma treatment

If your tooth was displaced into the wrong position or dislodged completely as a result of trauma, your dentist will perform a thorough examination to determine if the tooth can be saved. If savable, your dentist will place the tooth back into the socket and monitor its health overtime with follow-up visits.

Relief for a severe toothache

If pain occurs when chewing or biting, patients may be dealing with issues like tooth decay, a cracked tooth, root exposure or infection. It is necessary to have the dentist examine the tooth as soon as possible before the condition worsens.

Damaged dental restoration

If your dental restoration becomes damaged, your dentist will restore or replace the restoration, depending on the extent of the damage.

What to do in a dental emergency

Use a mouthguard

If you participate in contact sports or any activity where your beautiful smile is at risk, a mouthguard is a great option to help you avoid an accident. A mouthguard can help protect you from fracturing or knocking out a tooth.

Don’t chew

Don’t use your teeth as tools, such as using them to open things, bite nails, or chew on things that aren’t food. This can lead to broken or worn-down teeth, and a whole host of other issues. Break this bad habit and instead replace it with a more positive one such as chewing sugarless gum.

Take care of Food you eat

Excessive sugar can lead to tooth decay, which is why a healthy diet is an important factor in maintaining healthy teeth. Healthy and nutritious foods, including fruits, vegetables, dairy, nuts, and fish all promote healthy teeth.

Emergency dental care in Nashua

Emergency dental care is available in Nashua to address any oral issues you may be experiencing. Gentle Dental Nashua offers emergency dental services ranging from restoring chipped or missing teeth to treating dental abscesses to broken braces and much more. Contact us immediately to schedule a dental emergency appointment at (603) 556-7043.

Emergency dental care cost in Nashua

Depending on what emergency dental treatment is necessary, prices can range. At Gentle Dental we offer many affordable services to help cover the treatment you need. Don’t let finances be a reason for not attending to your oral health, call us for financing options.

Emergency dental care without insurance in Nashua

For those individuals without dental insurance, there are many offices in Nashua that offer several financing options to help with costs of emergency treatment.

Conclusion

If you are experiencing a dental emergency, don’t hesitate to contact your dentist’s office or urgent care immediately. When dental issues are treated early, it can make the world of difference between keeping or losing a tooth. Our team at Gentle Dental can help resolve your dental emergency and alleviate you from uncomfortable symptoms you may be experiencing. When in doubt, contact our team immediately for urgent dental services.