When Should You Go to an Emergency Dentist?
When you have dental pain, an injury, or any other sudden oral health concern, it’s important that you visit an emergency dentist as soon as possible. Often, the sooner you seek treatment, the easier it is to prevent complications and avoid the need for more invasive dental treatments in the future. At an emergency dental office, you can access same-day services and weekend appointments instead of waiting for a routine visit.
In this article, we are sharing everything you need to know about handling dental emergencies: what qualifies as a dental emergency, what to do to prevent complications, and why you should visit an emergency dentist as quickly as possible.
Dental Situations That Require an Emergency Dentist
Some of the most common types of dental emergencies that we treat in our office include:
- Severe Toothache: You have persistent, intense dental pain that isn’t going away. Even after flossing and brushing around the tooth, the tooth is still painful. If the pain doesn’t respond to over-the-counter pain medication, then it could be a sign of infection or even nerve damage.
- Knocked Out Tooth: If a tooth is fully dislodged from your mouth, then you need to go straight to the dentist. In order to save the tooth, treatment needs to be done within 30 to 60 minutes. A knocked-out tooth is a time-critical dental emergency and treatment should not be delayed. Bring the tooth with you to the appointment.
- Cracked or Fractured Tooth: If there is a deep crack in the tooth, it might reach the root and cause sharp pain because the nerve is exposed. It’s important to visit an emergency dentist as soon as possible to prevent further damage to the tooth.
- Dental Abscess: When there is a bacterial infection around the tooth, you will have related symptoms such as swelling, fever, and even a visible pimple-like bump at the base of the tooth. This abscess should be treated as soon as possible in order to prevent the infection from spreading to the jaw, neck, or bloodstream.
- Lost or Broken Crown or Filling: Any time a dental restoration breaks, the weakened tooth is exposed. Delaying treatment could lead to additional damage to the tooth, which is why you should call our dental team as soon as possible for a replacement restoration.
- Soft Tissue Injury: When an accident occurs and damages your gums or soft tissues, our dental team can help with emergency services. Examples include cuts, lacerations, or puncture wounds affecting the gums, cheeks, lips, or tongue. We will stop the bleeding and repair the area.
Situations That Can Wait for a Scheduled Appointment
Some dental issues don’t require emergency treatment. If you have any of these dental situations, then it’s ok to schedule an appointment. You can call our office to discuss your symptoms, and we will help you determine whether a same-day emergency appointment is necessary or if you can wait for a scheduled appointment.
- Mild toothache, without any swelling or a fever
- A chipped tooth that is causing no pain and has no sharp edges
- A broken aligner or lost retainer
- Routine sensitivity when consuming hot or cold foods
- A loose crown that is staying in place and not painful
Even though these dental issues are not immediate emergencies, you shouldn’t delay your dental appointment for too long. It’s best to call our dental office quickly to schedule the appointment. We’ll find a time to fit you into the schedule during normal business hours to help you avoid complications and more extensive dental treatments in the future.
What Happens at an Emergency Dentist Office
When you arrive at our emergency dental office, we start with a thorough assessment to evaluate the extent of the damage. It’s important for our team to have a clear understanding of what needs to be treated so that we can design the ideal plan for your unique needs. Not only do we perform a visual examination, but digital imaging is also helpful to see what is happening inside the tooth and below the gumline.
Pain management is the first priority, then we use same-day treatment options to address the root cause. Common treatments might include a tooth extraction, filling, dental crown, or infection treatment. You might need to come back to our office for follow-up care so that permanent restorations can be placed.
How to Handle a Dental Emergency Before You Arrive
There are a few things that you can do immediately to manage the emergency situation and increase the success of your emergency dental treatment.
- Knocked Out Tooth: Pick it up by the crown and rinse gently. Don’t scrub the tooth or touch the root. Place the tooth in milk or saliva and bring it to your emergency dentist.
- Dental Abscess: Never try to drain the pocket of infection. Rinse your mouth with warm salt water and come to our emergency dentist office immediately.
- Broken Tooth: Rinse your mouth with warm water and avoid chewing on that side of the mouth. If needed, a cold compress can help to reduce swelling.
- Lost Crown or Filling: If you need to wait for the dental appointment, then dental wax can be used as a temporary cover over the exposed area.
Frequently Asked Questions About Emergency Dental Care
If you have severe tooth pain with other symptoms, such as swelling and a fever, then the toothache should be treated as a dental emergency. These signs of infection can escalate quickly and should be treated by an emergency dentist right away.
We can often accept walk-ins at our emergency dental office, but it’s always recommended that you call ahead so that our team can prepare for your appointment.
Call Aura Family Dentist if you need a dentist open on Saturday. We offer urgent access so that you don’t have to wait until the following week for your dental care.