Should I See an Emergency Dentist for Periodontitis?

If you have started to notice signs of periodontitis, then you might be wondering if you need to see an emergency dentist. An emergency dentist can offer you immediate dental care to help you quickly preserve your smile. An emergency dentist can prevent any potential tooth loss as well. To understand more, it is important to first know what periodontitis is and what the symptoms are.

What is periodontitis?

Periodontitis is also known as gum disease. This is an extremely common condition where the gums and other tissues in the mouth have become inflamed. The gum inflammation is caused by bacteria on the teeth that have worked their way underneath the gumline to the roots of the teeth. Some very common symptoms of the disease can include bleeding during brushing or flossing, redness and swelling.

While this response is part of the body’s defense system to fight off the bacteria, it can cause some serious damage in the mouth. If periodontal disease is not treated quickly, the bacteria can continue spreading along the roots of the teeth. This can destroy the ligament and the bone that supports the teeth. This can cause the teeth to loosen and eventually fall out.

When to visit an emergency dentist

Gum disease itself is not necessarily a reason to visit an emergency dentist. However, there are a few signs that it may be a good idea to do so. For example, gums that are aching and bleeding are a sign of advanced periodontitis. If the bleeding is excessive and keeps happening, even if the patient is not eating, the patient should see an emergency dentist. This can be a sign of advanced gum disease and can lead to tooth loss for the patient. After some stages of gum disease, patients will not be able to restore their smile well.

A dental abscess is another sign that an individual should see an emergency dentist. Severe gum disease can cause infection, which results in that tooth having sharp, stabbing pain. Symptoms of this can include swollen glands, fever or a foul taste in the mouth. An emergency dentist may need to perform surgery to help the infection to properly drain and remove the bacteria.

Unexplained toothaches are another sign that patients should see an emergency dentist. These toothaches can be caused by gum disease in advanced stages. Tooth sensitivity and facial swelling are both red flags that patients should be concerned about. Acting quickly can help a patient to save the tooth — even a day can make a difference.

Visit an emergency dentist today

If you have periodontitis, it is important to get it treated quickly. It can cause other oral health issues such as an abscessed tooth or excessive bleeding in the gums. Left untreated, this form of gum disease can cause the teeth to eventually loosen. You should have this disease treated quickly to prevent your teeth from coming out.

Request an appointment here: https://www.lilburnfamilydentistry.com or call Lilburn Family Dentistry at (770) 800-0178 for an appointment in our Lilburn office.

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