Definition of Dental Emergency Terminology

Abscess

A dental abscess is a pocket of pus that forms in the tooth root from a bacterial infection.

Impacted Wisdom Tooth

An impacted wisdom tooth is a tooth that does not erupt from the gums properly that can cause pain and become infected without professional extraction.

Lateral Luxation

Lateral luxation is the displacement of a tooth that moves it in the wrong direction while it is still attached to the gums.

Tooth Avulsion

Tooth avulsion is when the tooth completely displaces from the socket due to an accident or other health issues. We can replant the tooth if the patient seeks immediate care.

Facial Cellulitis

Facial cellulitis is a condition in which an infection from an abscess or plaque in the teeth causes pain and spreads throughout the face.

Irreversible Pulpitis

Irreversible pulpitis is when the pain in the tooth occurs spontaneously or continues to hurt after the patient removes the hot/cold substance that was causing pain. Normal pulpitis will cease hurting directly after removing what is causing the pain.

Pericoronitis

Pericoronitis is the inflammation of soft tissues surrounding a tooth that does not fully erupt from the gums and causes pain.

Tooth Fracture

A tooth fracture can result from multiple sources including an accidental elbow to the face during a sports game, biting on something really hard, falling face first and more.