Dental emergencies can be very scary, and it can be confusing to determine where to go when one happens. But unlike for medical emergencies, your local emergency room is usually not equipped to handle dental problems. Thankfully, your dentist offers emergency services that can help relieve your pain and treat your problem, so you’ll never have to be turned away from the ER.
Specialized Dental Care
Although most hospitals can help you in the midst of a variety of medical problems, they’re not typically prepared for dental emergencies. In fact, most don’t even have a dentist on staff. While some hospitals may be able to extract an infected tooth, this procedure would be done by a doctor, not a dentist, and they may not be properly qualified to determine if your tooth can be saved.
Most emergency rooms can prescribe pain medications to help in the throes of a toothache, however they will likely refer you to the nearest emergency dentist for proper treatment.
Faster Treatment
While you may think it will be quicker to just go straight to the emergency room in a dental crisis, it could end up wasting valuable time if they turn you away. Thus, it’s better to head directly to your emergency dentist, as they can likely treat you right there in the office at the time you arrive, or book you for a treatment soon thereafter.
Ultimately, visiting the emergency dentist first can save you both time and possibly even your tooth!
Personalized Service
Unlike the emergency room, your dentist already knows your oral health history. This will make it easier for you to get immediate care. Better yet, if you require any follow-up visits after your emergency, you can still be seen by the same practitioner without having to provide a full history again. They can also keep an eye on the situation going forward and ensure that your treatment is still effective.
What Constitutes a Dental Emergency?
Now that you know to head straight to your dentist for a dental emergency, here’s how to tell when you’re having one. If any of the following occurs, reach out as soon as possible for urgent attention.
- Persistent bleeding
- Loose or missing adult teeth
- Injured or fractured jaw or facial bones
- Painful swelling or aching tooth
- A dental abscess
While some dental problems are still considered urgent, they do not require immediate care. Still, you should schedule an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. These situations include:
- A lost bridge, crown, or dental implant
- A damaged or broken tooth that is not in severe pain
- A broken retainer, night guard, or dentures
- A mild toothache
Should you experience any of these issues, contact your emergency dentist as soon as possible for further instructions. You may need to come in immediately, or you may be scheduled for a later date, depending on the severity of your symptoms.
About Our Practice
At Corcoran Privitera Family Dental, we offer same-day appointments for patients experiencing an urgent dental emergency. If you are suffering from unexpected dental pain, have injured a tooth, or are experiencing another oral health problem, please contact our office as soon as possible for further instructions. You can reach our Peebles office at 937-587-3903, or our Waverly office at 740-835-4698.