If you have a severe toothache and can’t get an immediate appointment with your dentist, you may seek an emergency dentist who can help. You can search online for “urgent care for toothache” or “closest emergency dentist.” Many people with dental emergencies prefer to go to the emergency room, but few emergency rooms have dental staff. This is why locating an emergency dental office is the first step to take when experiencing a toothache.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, an emergency dental visit should be your next move if an incident or accident dislodges your dental work or you have a deep cut in your lip or mouth. If that same incident has left you with a tooth that has been knocked out, or if you recognize signs of an abscess or tooth infection. In the case of an abscess, you may need to undergo emergency oral surgery to extract the tooth.
If you are new to your neighborhood, it may be a good idea to seek out a team of emergency dentists before you need them. You can keep that phone number on your refrigerator, along with the phone numbers of other emergency providers. People currently wearing dentures should also keep a phone number for an emergency orthodontist.
Dental emergencies can happen anytime, day or night. And not everything is a result of sudden trauma — even something so innocuous as nighttime teeth grinding can sometimes lead to an after-hours dental crisis, if years of grinding have finally resulted in a chipped or fractured tooth. Unfortunately, 24 hour dentists can be few and far between.
Your first inclination may be to drive (or be driven) to the emergency room of your local hospital. But try to remain calm and decide if that’s really the best course of action. Emergency rooms are rarely staffed with dentists. The main function of any ER is to perform life-saving procedures. A chipped tooth — even a missing tooth — is very rarely life-threatening. Unless the broken tooth is blocking your airway or won’t stop bleeding, it may be best to wait until the morning to schedule an urgent appointment with your local dentist.
In the meantime, treat the symptoms. You’ll want to take something for pain, even if it hasn’t set in yet. In the case of serious mouth trauma, mild shock can delay the onset of pain — don’t assume that just because it doesn’t hurt right away, it won’t hurt like the dickens in twenty minutes or so. Applying ice to the affected area can help to preempt any swelling as well.
Consider, too, the kind of dentist you might need to see once you do get a chance to schedule an appointment. Your general dentist can ensure there isn’t any major damage, but will most likely refer you to a cosmetic dentistry specialist for any restorative procedures you might need. If your symptoms are manageable in the meantime, you may be better served to wait until you can schedule an appointment directly with a cosmetic dentist, and save a step.
Just as with emergency phone numbers and contact information, finding a dentist for emergencies ahead of time can save you stress and worry. Remember: the best time to research whether or not there’s a 24 hour dentist in your area is before you desperately need one. More like this blog: Delta dental kirkland
