You may be wondering what’s the difference between a dental emergency and just a dental problem. Dental emergencies are situations that need to be treated as soon as possible so that severe or lasting damage doesn’t occur. With some other dental problems, it’s possible to wait a little bit to get treated without major harm to your oral or physical health.
Some examples of common dental emergencies include a tooth that’s been knocked out, a broken tooth, a severe crack, and a severe infection or abscess. In some of these cases, the faster you act, the better the likelihood that your tooth can be saved. That’s what puts the urgency in the emergency!