You wake up with nagging pain in your mouth. You spend the morning wondering if you’ll end up in the dentist’s chair by lunchtime. The pain goes away and you go on with your day.

This time you avoided that unplanned trip to the dentist. In case your tooth pain comes back, we can help you figure out if you should call now or wait until tomorrow.

Tooth pain is only one situation where you might need emergency dental services. We’ve put together information about that and a few other top signs you should schedule time with your dentist sooner rather than later.

A Pain in the Tooth

Toothaches are, decidedly, one of the most painful (and annoying) scenarios associated with having teeth. A toothache can stop your day before it even gets started if it’s bad enough. But how do you when pain in the tooth is an emergency?

First, tooth pain takes place on two levels. One means you avoid drinking ice cold beverages. The other level of tooth pain makes focusing on anything other than your mouth nearly impossible.

When the pain ebbs and flows and you can control it with an occasional over the counter pain medication, you can probably wait until the dentist can put you on the schedule. If pain suddenly worsens or won’t go away at all, you may need emergency care.

That kind of pain could mean an abscess. It could also mean you have a cavity or a cracked tooth. If it’s an abscess, waiting for treatment could result in an infection that spreads to other parts of your body.

Your Face Is Swollen

A night of crying because you watched the latest tear-jerker is one cause of a swollen face. An abscess or gum infection can also cause swelling in your cheek or along your jaw.

If the swelling is minimal and you don’t have pain, you probably don’t need emergency dental services. Instead, apply a cold pack and see if the swelling doesn’t go down. Depending on the cause, it could take a week or two for swelling to completely go away

If you have extreme pain and severe swelling, seek treatment immediately!

You Can Wiggle a Tooth

Unless you a child between the ages of 6-12, you should not have loose teeth!

If you’re a grown-up and you can wiggle your teeth, you need care as soon as possible. Even if you don’t have pain, you should still seek quick treatment.

Loose adult teeth may mean you have a tooth injury. It could also be evidence of an infection in a tooth or your gums. Loose teeth accompanied by bleeding gums usually means you have advanced gum disease.

Don’t wait for the tooth to fall out. Taken care of immediately, your dentist can likely save your tooth and prevent further progress if you do indeed have gum disease.

Do You Need Emergency Dental Services?

We’ve shared 3 common signs of the need for immediate dental care. Bleeding gums, strange taste in your mouth, headaches that won’t go away, and numbness in a tooth that previously hurt are other signs you should seek emergency dental services.

If you’re experiencing any of these, or you need an appointment for routine dental care, we’re here for you! To schedule a visit, contact us today.

About 64.4% of adults visit the dentist in any given year. 

Many people go to the dentist not only for routine cleanings and x-rays—but also for cosmetic reasons. 

With the help of cosmetic dentistry, you can improve your overall appearance and achieve the smile you have always wanted. 

In this article, we’ll go over how to find the best cosmetic dentist, so you can be proud of your smile. 

Ask Your Dentist

If cosmetic dentistry is beyond the scope of your current dentist, you can start by asking them for a recommendation. Even if your dentist doesn’t perform the work you need, they will be able to point you in the right direction.

Most dentists offer great referrals when they don’t specialize in the work their patients need. For example, if a patient has a severe issue with their jaw, they might refer them to an oral surgeon.

However, if your dentist does offer cosmetic dentistry, you can get a second opinion.

Learn What is Available

The cosmetic dentistry area of work is quite broad. Cosmetic dentists specialize in more than just making your teeth even. Cosmetic dentistry covers anything from teeth whitening to filling gaps, chips, and veneers.

Before you decide on a cosmetic dentist, you should learn more about what techniques are available. Once you narrow down the type of work you need done, then you can look for a dentist that specializes in the procedure.

Look at the Dentist’s Portfolio

If you find a dentist you’re interested in, the first thing you need to do is look at real patient results. Any reputable dentist will want to show you before and after photos of their former patients.

However, in this day and age, it’s easy for people to manipulate photography. As you look through photographs at the dentist, make sure you’re looking at real photos and not only stock photos. You should also look for more than just photographs. You want to see actual testimonies from patients.

To get your hands on these, ask the cosmetic dentist if you can contact any of their previous patients.

Take Cost into Account

As you may suspect, cosmetic dentistry doesn’t come cheap. Because it’s cosmetic, don’t expect dental insurance to cover any of it. Although you have to pay for it out of pocket, there’s no reason you should pay more than your budget allows.

When looking for the best cosmetic dentist, you need to consider the cost. Prices are not necessarily a reflection of the competency of the dentist.

For example, depending on the location, some prices are a lot higher.

Education and Training

Since you want your cosmetic dentist to be competent and qualified, make sure you learn about their level of education and training. 

Not only should they have a degree from an accredited university, but they should also have the proper training in their speciality. 

How to Find the Best Cosmetic Dentist

Now that you know how to find the best cosmetic dentist, it’s time you transform your smile. 

Remember to learn more about the procedures, ensure the dentist is qualified, and take the cost into account. 

Are you in the Washington DC area? Contact us today for an appointment.