It's been said that tooth pain is some of the worst, and when you're up all night with an aching tooth, you know it's time to contact your dentist in Gaithersburg!
But what if your tooth is just sensitive when you drink your morning coffee? Should you be alarmed? When is it time to notify your dentist?
A Good Rule of Thumb
If you are feeling sensitivity, but you're unsure you have a full-blown dental emergency on your hands, a good rule of thumb is to contact your dentist anyway. They can often provide guidance over the phone on how to handle your situation, or they may determine that an examination with your dentist is necessary.
Be Proactive
Visiting your dentist for an examination allows them to catch any concerns like tooth decay early on. If your tooth has a cavity, it may cause you to feel sensitivity to temperature. When you detect tooth decay early, it's likely that your dentist can treat it with a simple filling. If you ignore the sensitivity, and the decay progresses further into your tooth, it could reach your nerve and cause an infection.
Being proactive about visiting your dentist every six months for checkups or when you have a sensitive tooth will help you avoid bigger problems in the future.
Other Times You Should Contact Your Emergency Dentist
Some different situations your emergency dentist in Gaithersburg can help with include:
- A knocked-out (avulsed) tooth
- Broken or lost fillings or crowns
- Chipped or broken teeth
- Soft tissue injuries
- Toothaches
If you or a loved one is experiencing any of these situations, contact your dentist first. Heading to a hospital emergency room will typically mean you'll get sent back to your dentist because the hospital is not adequately equipped to handle tooth emergencies.
Your team at Lakeforest Dental Associates is here to help when a dental emergency arises! Contact us at (301) 690-8526 if you're experiencing an emergency or tooth pain.
