September 17, 2021
There are times when you have a bad toothache, and you need to find a dentist to help relieve the pain but you do not have the time to wait for an appointment.
Sometimes if the dentist is booked full, you may have to wait days, or even weeks, before an appointment.
In such situations, you need to find emergency dentistry that can take care of your problem right away.
This type of dentistry service helps patients in urgent need of dental solutions. They can take care of extractions, infection control, or even emergency surgical procedures.
What is a Dental Emergency?
According to studies, about 22% of people experience oral pain at least once in six months.
A medical facility providing urgent dental care options usually provides only specific services. So you must be aware of the situations considered a dental emergency.
There are some situations where you may experience pain or distress, but you cannot be sure if it is a true dental emergency.
There are instances where the problem is not considered an emergency, and thus an emergency dental care center may not be able to help you.
These facilities work only with urgent cases so they reserve their open spots solely for the patients who need emergency services immediately upon coming.
Common Types of Dental Emergencies
The most common types of dental injuries that require emergency dental care:
Tooth Loss (Avulsion)
In case of permanent tooth loss, you must seek immediate dental care.
In case you are disoriented, seek someone’s help to locate the tooth.
Pick it up by the crown, not touching the root or any of the attached tissues, if possible.
Placing the tooth in saline solution or milk helps to keep it hydrated.
The success rate of re-implantation is higher by reaching a dentist within 60 minutes.
Tooth Displacement
When trauma causes a tooth to move out of place and become loose, it is known as Tooth Displacement.
If you have a displaced tooth, do not try to move the tooth back into place yourself. This may worsen the displacement and cause a great deal of pain.
Tooth displacement is also very time-sensitive. Immediate treatment helps to limit further damage to the tooth and allows for the best possible healing.
Related Article: Dental Implants- Types, Procedure, Cost and Recovery
Chipped or Broken Teeth
A chipped or broken tooth has the potential of becoming a serious dental emergency.
A chip can infer that the tooth is at risk and may eventually fully break or shatter, compromising the entire tooth and resulting in a root canal or tooth loss.
In such an emergency rinse out your mouth with warm water and use a cold compress on the affected area.
Take an over-the-counter painkiller in case of any pain.
Wrap the tooth fragment wrapped in a wet piece of gauze or towel and bring it with you to your emergency dental appointment.
A chipped tooth can easily break if you are not careful. Seek emergency dental care as soon as possible if you chip your tooth.
Oral Infections
Sometimes a dental abscess also known as gum swelling or facial swelling can lead to serious medical and dental problems if not addressed quickly.
It may be caused by a bacterial infection, poor oral hygiene, or an untreated cavity.
If you feel redness or swelling in the mouth, difficulty in eating, a foul taste in the mouth, or extreme pain, it is imperative that you call for an emergency appointment.
Broken Dental Appliances
If your bracket or wire from orthodontics is broken or a piece of your removable denture breaks off, you need to call an emergency dentist.
Tips for Choosing an Emergency Dentist
A dental emergency can be too late to waste time looking for a dentist online or asking a friend.
At this point, the emergency needs to be addressed to avoid the situation getting to a worse stage.
At this time, an emergency room is not the best choice. While it can treat other wounds and injuries, it does not have the equipment or the staff proficiency to handle dental emergencies.
You should choose an emergency dentist before it is necessary.
Here are some effective tips to make it easier to find one:
1. Always look in your city or general area. You should not drive an hour to find a dentist in an emergency. It is crucial to visit an emergency dentist within 20 or 30 minutes. Driving far in an emergency can only increase stress and anxiety levels. It can also end up worsening the situation.
2. Try to find a dentist who accepts your dental insurance plan. Your insurance provider can also help with a list of dentists who accept the plan and also treat patients on an emergency basis.
3. Find out about the hours an emergency dentist is open. If you have an inhibition that a dental emergency may happen on the evening or weekends due to a scheduled event like games, it is advisable to find a dentist who is open during those times.
4. Find out about the services they provide and offer. Finding an emergency dentist who treats patients on an emergency basis and can also handle dental restoration takes care of the need to have the rest of the dental work completed somewhere else.
5. Ask the ages treated by them. In case they only treat adult patients, visiting them with a child who has chipped his or her tooth is useless. Always inquire about the age ranges a dentist cares for so that in case of emergency your head is in the right direction.
Bottom Line
A dental emergency can strike anytime just like a medical emergency. Please Choose a dentist today.
Kirkland Dentist Dr. Gaurav Sharma has 400+ hours of Continuing education from the prestigious AAID (American Academy of Implant Dentistry) He applies for the latest research & advances in dentistry to provide the best dental care to patients.
It is always advisable to be prepared for a dental emergency by choosing an emergency dentist now and keeping their information handy.
Kirkland Dentistry has proficient dentists who can handle any kind of dental emergency. Please feel free to contact us for more information on our team and services.
