Anyone who has had a dental emergency understands how scary it can be. The pain is unbearable, the bleeding is uncontrollable, and the swelling is terrifying to look at. The cause could be as simple as a cavity or cracked tooth, but the results could be terrible.

Don’t sit on a dental emergency because it will only worsen matters. Instead, schedule an appointment with an emergency dentist for urgent care. If you are in Fort Worth, Texas, Maegan Elam, DDS and Associates offers same-day dentistry to manage oral pain and restore oral health. 

Why you shouldn’t delay addressing a dental emergency 

When you have a dental emergency, using a “wait and see” approach is natural. Unfortunately, ignoring a dental emergency will jeopardize your oral health and overall well-being. 

Following are the dangers of ignoring a dental emergency.

• Increased pain: Many patients seek emergency dental care services because of excruciating tooth pain. Although home remedies can resolve toothaches, they only provide a “Band-Aid” solution. Yes, gargling your mouth with salty water or hydrogen peroxide can relieve tooth pain, but you need professional care to resolve the pain permanently
• Tooth loss: Do you have a loose or knocked-out tooth? It can be saved with emergency dental care, but only if you act within a specific timeframe. Waiting too long can make it impossible to re-implant a knocked-out tooth, resulting in costly teeth replacement procedures
• Spread of infection: Dental infections (abscesses) can spread quickly to nearby structures. In severe cases, the infection can be life-threatening if the infection seeps into the bloodstream. Immediate treatment is required to address dental infection before the matter gets out of hand
• Increased cost: The longer you delay emergency dental care, the more costly the treatment may become. For instance, if you delay treating an infected tooth with an emergency root canal, you could lose your tooth, requiring costly treatments like a dental implant

Dr. Maegan Elam encourages patients to prevent dental emergencies through diligent oral hygiene, bi-annual dental appointments, and wearing customized mouthguards for bruxers and athletes. 

But since dental emergencies can’t be avoided entirely, please add our contact (817) 283-2871 to your phone. When you or your loved one encounters a dental emergency, don’t hesitate to call us for urgent dental care. We are located in Bedford, TX, but we also serve patients in Fort Worth.