A toothache is undoubtedly painful, but is it always a reason to rush to your emergency dentist? Probably not – but it can certainly be difficult to differentiate between a dental emergency and a non-emergent dental concern. If left untreated, a dental emergency could progress and cause many other health complications, so they should be dealt with immediately. On the other hand, however, something non-emergent can absolutely wait until regular business hours. So, do you think you would recognize a dental emergency if it happened to you? Take our quiz and find out!
Questions:
True or False: If my tooth has completely fallen out, it’s unsalvageable.
True or False: A persistent toothache can be a sign of a serious dental infection.
True or False: A cracked or chipped tooth can wait until morning.
Answer Key:
- False. In fact, if your tooth does completely fall out – whether it be to a facial injury or a dental infection – your dentist can save it as long as it’s treated within an hour. There are many things you can do to help protect it as well, so don’t hesitate to contact your dentist office!
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- True. If you have a toothache (or tooth sensitivity) that persists over time and becomes increasingly worse, it’s likely a sign of a bigger problem. Unfortunately, the longer an infection is left untreated, the worse it progresses. In this case, you could be dealing with an abscessed tooth which should be dealt with as soon as possible.
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- False. A cracked or chipped tooth can actually lead to further problems – although, depending on the severity of your situation, your dentist may actually wait to see you until morning. If it’s threatening the life of your tooth, however, they’ll want to see you immediately.
