Dental Implants: Stains, Whitenings and Other Considerations
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Dental Implants: Stains, Whitenings and Other Considerations

Dental implants can make a smile look fabulous – I know I have them. However, if you are just thinking about getting them, you may have a lot of questions. You may be wondering how smoking affects implants, whether or not wine will stain them, if they can be whitened or other concerns. I also know from experience that it can be intimidating to ask some of these questions to your dentist. In my dental implant blog, I am going to answer the questions that can be hard to ask. I hope you find the info you need in this blog and that it guides you to the right decision about dental implants. Thanks for reading!

Dental Implants: Stains, Whitenings and Other Considerations

3 Signs Your Dental Abscess Needs Emergency Treatment

Isobel Berry

If you've had a dental abscess in the past, then you know the warning signs. The problem is, an abscess can turn nasty very quickly. You may not have the time to get regular treatment if you have problems just before weekends and holidays when your dental clinic is closed.

If you can't go to your dentist and have an abscess, then you may sometimes be able to wait out the pain until the clinic opens again. However, sometimes, it's better to get emergency treatment. When is this a good idea?

1. Pain Relief Doesn't Work

Dental abscess pain can be excruciating. The infection puts pressure inside and around the tooth, giving you a throbbing pain. This can make the tooth and the gum around it extremely sore all of the time.

During the early stages of an abscess, you may be able to control this pain with regular painkillers. However, as the pressure increases, you may find that painkillers stop working. If you're at the stage where you don't get any relief when you take tablets, then it may be time to contact an emergency dentist to get help.

2. You Have Some Swelling

Dental abscesses can cause swelling in a couple of areas. For example, you may notice a lump or swelling on the gum under the infected tooth. This may grow over time if the abscess isn't treated, and the infection starts to spread.

In some cases, your face may also swell up. For example, the cheek on the abscess's side may puff up quickly. This may be a sign that the infection is spreading. While a small amount of facial swelling may not worry you, it's a good idea to get a second opinion from an emergency dental service if your face swells a lot or continues to swell steadily over time.

3. You've Got a Temperature

If your abscess flares up, then you may start to run a fever. This is generally caused by the infection. Your body is trying to deal with the infection by kickstarting your immune system. You may also feel sick and have chills. At this stage, you're likely to need antibiotic help. So, this is a good time to call your emergency dental service.

In some cases, an emergency dentist may simply give you antibiotics to help deal with the abscess before your dental clinic opens again. In others, they may drain the abscess and start treating your tooth. The treatment you get may depend on the severity of the problem and how long you'll have to wait to see your own dentist.


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