How Regular Dental Visits Can Help You Prevent Dental Emergencies

Going to the dentist is no one’s definition of a fun afternoon, but skipping dental appointments is a direct, one-way ticket to the emergency dentist in Savannah. Regular visits with extensive dental exams help us ensure your smile is in top condition, preventing issues that may cause toothache and dental sensitivity in the long run.  

While prevention is key in every type of medicine but it’s even more fundamental in dentistry. Let’s go over how frequent dental visits and exams can ensure your oral health.

Common Dental Emergencies and Why Do They Happen

1. Toothaches

One of the most common dental emergencies is toothaches. Many patients come to our dental offices experiencing pain in or around a tooth, especially when this discomfort becomes severe. This makes sense, though, as toothaches can be especially debilitating.

However, a toothache always indicates an underlying problem, such as infections, gum disease, or cavities. When plaque accumulates and erodes the enamel, cavities develop. Bacteria enter the tooth's pulp and cause pressure and inflammation if treatment is not received.

2. Broken or Cracked Tooth

When a tooth sustains physical trauma, it can become cracked or broken. While this can happen from biting hard foods or accidents, a healthy tooth is much less likely to crack than one already weakened by erosion, cavities, or gum disease.

Sometimes, you may not notice your tooth is cracked right away. Some potential symptoms to look out for include pain, sensitivity, and visible damage to the tooth.  

3. Dental Abscess

An infected pocket of pus is called a dental abscess. It may appear in the gums or at the tooth's root. The symptoms include fever, swelling, and excruciating pain. Abscesses are frequently caused by untreated gum disease and cavities.

These issues can be treated with a dental visit, and pain can be reduced by draining the abscess.

4. Lost Filling or Crown

A lost filling or crown occurs when a dental restoration falls out. Dental restorations are not made to last forever. Still, improper care, such as failing to maintain oral hygiene or skipping dental visits, can lead to decay, wear and tear, and trauma, increasing the chances of losing your crown.

For a long-term fix, see your dentist right away if you lose a dental restoration.

Why Are Regular Dental Visits a Must?

Visiting the dentist often is crucial to maintaining good oral health. According to the American Dental Association, the best frequency for dental visits is every six months, with an in-depth cleaning at least once a day.

This can pose several benefits for your smile.

• Regular visits make it easier to identify potential issues, such as gum disease, early on. With prompt diagnosis and treatment, we can stop the infection before it continues festering, which results in simpler and more effective treatments.

• Moreover, when identified early on, issues can be solved more cost-effectively. For instance, after removing a small cavity, a tooth can be restored with a simple filling. But if the damage is deeper, root canal treatment with a dental crown will be necessary.

• Lastly, during your dental visits, we can identify potential issues that may cause a dental emergency later on. One of them is a loose crown, an eroded tooth that may cause sensitivity or a broken filling.

For all of these reasons, regular visits to the dentist are key.

Find a Qualified Emergency Dentist in Savannah

Sometimes, there’s nothing we can do to prevent a sudden accident. This doesn’t mean, though, that all the efforts you place daily to ensure the health of your smile don’t have an effect. By visiting the dentist regularly and maintaining good oral hygiene, issues like tooth sensitivity, shifting teeth, and unbearable toothaches can be avoided.

If, besides all of these precautions, a dental emergency occurs, the Savannah Dental team is here to help you. Reach out and let us know what we can do to help!