Top 5 Reasons Why Someone Needs an Emergency Dentistry Appointment

Simply Smiles - Comprehensive Dentistry & Facial Esthetics • March 18, 2023

Occasionally you may need an emergency dentistry appointment. Take a look at the top five reasons people need emergency dental care.

emergency dentistry, dentist in ashburn va

About 10% of all dental visits are due to emergency dental needs. Research shows that 43% of patients returned for another appointment after treatment.


There are certain instances where emergency dentistry is needed. If you have a dentist in Ashburn, VA, you want to make sure they have emergency options.


Anyone can experience a dental emergency for a variety of reasons. Some people have already had dental treatments done, while others have healthy teeth.



Keep reading to find out more about emergency dentistry and why you may need it.

1. Severe Tooth or Jaw Pain

Some people require emergency dental care if they are having dental pain. Anyone can experience this if they are having unexplained tooth pain.


There are a lot of nerves in the mouth, which can contribute to severe tooth pain. If you are experiencing this, this could be a dental emergency.


This pain could be as simple as a toothache or could indicate an underlining issue. Tooth pain could indicate an issue with the root or something going on with your gums.


A dentist in Ashburn, VA, will be able to address this issue. After an examination, they should be able to indicate what is wrong and how it can be treated.



Your dentist also has the ability to give you pain medication if the pain is severe. This may be necessary if the problem cannot be treated immediately.

2. Oral and Facial Swelling

You may be experiencing swelling in your jaw or in your face. Swelling is not a good sign, as this usually indicates inflammation or damage.


Your mouth and face should not normally swell if you have not had any injury. If this is a symptom you are noticing, you should get an emergency dentistry appointment.


An emergency dentist will be able to examine you to find the cause of the swelling. This can be especially serious if the swelling is making it difficult to swallow.


Minor swelling is not always something that should cause concern. But it is better to be safe than sorry and get an appointment anyway to get checked out.



If you are having trouble breathing, you should go to the emergency room immediately. This could be life-threatening and should be addressed by an emergency room doctor.

3. Broken Tooth

Everyone is at risk of experiencing a broken tooth. This can happen if you bite down on something hard or you fall and hit your jaw on the ground.


A broken tooth can be extremely painful, even if it is just chipped. Even minor damage can cause a great deal of pain and make your tooth vulnerable to infection.


An emergency dentist will be able to fix your broken tooth to better protect it. This may feel devastating, but it is not nearly as big of an issue as you may think.



If you were in an accident, your dentist will be able to check for any other injuries. This can be important if you damaged other teeth without realizing it.

4. Oral Abscess

You may need emergency dentistry if you notice an abscess in your mouth. Abscesses can develop for a variety of reasons, some of them being more serious.


An abscess is a pus-filled pocket that forms around the end of the tooth‘s root. It can be very painful and make it difficult to eat or drink anything.


An abscess that is not treated can cause serious damage to your teeth. It can’t even go to your jawbone and create a serious infection.



This is why you should see a dentist if you are having severe dental pain. You could possibly have an abscess without even realizing it.

5. Broken Orthodontics

If you have braces, you are at risk of broken orthodontics. This is because braces are not invincible and can become damaged when you do certain things.


You may have bitten into something hard or accidentally hit your teeth together. No matter what happened, metal wires and brackets can both become damaged from these things.


Snapped wires are especially common and can be very painful. They can poke the inside of your mouth and create open wounds that could become infected.



This is a dental emergency, and you need to see your dentist right away. They will be able to replace any damaged pieces and repair your braces.

6. Lost Tooth

If you have lost a tooth suddenly, you need to see an emergency dentist. People lose teeth for a variety of reasons, many involving some kind of accident.


You may have weak teeth or a health condition that affects your teeth. Elderly people are also at a greater risk of losing teeth from basic daily activities.


If you have lost a tooth, you may have pain in that area. You will want to get an emergency visit as soon as possible to address the issue.



Those who have been in an accident may need the dentist to check other teeth. There is a good chance the other teeth have been chipped or loosened from the injury.

Emergency Dentistry in Ashburn, VA

If you are having dental issues, you may need emergency dentistry to fix the issue. This is a type of dentistry that allows you to get an appointment as soon as possible when needed.


This is very important since anything can happen to your teeth at any time. Even those with excellent oral hygiene are at risk of breaking teeth or abscesses.



Are you having a dental emergency? Contact us today at Simply Smiles for access to the 24/7 emergency hotline.

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