Dental emergencies can occur anytime.
A tooth suddenly becomes very sensitive, you may break a tooth, lose a filling or have swelling around the gums or face.
In such cases, discovering an emergency dentist near me could help you receive urgent dental care as rapidly as possible.
An emergency dentist can assess the issue, alleviate the pain and offer a remedy that stops the problem worsening.
What is an Emergency Dentist?
An emergency dentist is a dentist that provides services for emergency dental issues that can’t wait for a scheduled appointment.
Emergency dental clinics might provide:
- Same-day appointments
- Evening appointments
- Weekend dental care
- Urgent pain relief
- A broken or damaged tooth can be treated by the dentist and the tooth will be restored.
The services available can vary between dental clinics.
When To Visit the Emergency Dentist?
If you have a serious problem with your teeth, gums or mouth, you may need an emergency dental appointment.
Common reasons include:
- Severe toothache
- Broken or cracked tooth
- Knocked-out tooth
- Dental abscess
- Swelling of the gums or face
- Heavy bleeding
- Lost filling
- Lost crown
- Dental injury
- Significant pain following dental procedure(s)
If the pain is only mild, it might be OK to wait until a regular appointment, but if the pain is bad or getting worse, it is important to get checked up immediately.
Severe Toothache
One of the top reasons people visit an emergency dentist is for a severe toothache.
Tooth pain can be caused by:
- Tooth decay
- Infection
- Cracked teeth
- Gum disease
- Damaged fillings
- Dental abscess
An emergency dentist will be able to take a look at the tooth and identify the cause of the pain.
Depending on the problem, a filling or a root canal, drainage of an infection or extraction of the tooth may be required.
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How to Care for a Knocked-Out Tooth?
Knocked out permanent teeth is a dental emergency.
Whenever possible, pick the tooth off by the crown and not the root.
Don’t rub the tooth.
If it’s dirty, wipe it off with a damp cloth.
If it’s easy to put into the tooth socket, you can do so. If not, keep it wet in milk or other appropriate substance used to preserve teeth until you can see a dentist for emergency treatment.
Emergency treatment may help to improve the possibilities of saving the tooth.
What do you do if you break or crack a tooth?
A cracked tooth can result in pain or sensitivity, or sharp edges.
Gently rinse your mouth out with water.
If there is swelling, place cold compress to the outside of the face.
Avoid chewing on the affected side until you are able to see a dentist.
A dentist can fix the tooth with one or more of the following:
- Dental bonding
- A filling
- A crown
- Root canal treatment
Treatment will depend on the severity of the damage to the tooth.
Is a Dental Abscess a Dental Emergency?
Yes.
A dental abscess is an infection which can lead to pain and swelling.
Symptoms may include:
- Throbbing tooth pain
- Swollen gums
- Facial swelling
- Bad taste in the mouth
- Fever
- Excessive temperature of body parts.Receptive to hot or cold.
You should not put off dental infections.
Seek urgent medical attention if the swelling causes difficulty with breathing, eating or swallowing or progresses rapidly around your face or neck.
What to Expect on the Visit for Emergency Dental Care?
In an emergency visit to the dentist, they will first ask about your symptoms.
They may examine your:
- Teeth
- Gums
- Jaw
- Mouth
- Face
Dental X-rays might also be required.
The dentist will do his best to find the source of the problem and treat it to alleviate pain and prevent further damage.
How to find an emergency dentist near me?
In deciding on the best dentist near you to seek urgent dental care, you should check to see that they state:
- Emergency dental appointments
- Same-day treatment
- After-hours availability
- Weekend hours
- Urgent dental services
You can also contact the dental clinic directly to see if they can see you right away as you may have some symptoms.
If you already have a dentist, call them first – they might have options for emergency appointments.
How Much Do Emergency Dentists Charge?
The price of emergency dental care will rely on the kind of care you require.
These are less expensive than procedures like:
- Root canal treatment
- Tooth extraction
- Dental crown
- Emergency dental surgery
When possible, inquire about consultation costs and treatment costs prior to the procedure in the clinic.
So, what can you do while you’re waiting for the dentist?
You can alleviate discomfort while you wait for dental treatment by:
- Gently rinse your mouth with warm salt water.
- Applying cool compresses for swelling.
- Stay away from extremely hot or cold food.
- Eating soft foods
- Maintaining cleanliness at the area
- Using an over-the-counter medication that’s right for you if you can use without complication
Avoid putting aspirin on the tooth or gums as it might irritate the tissue.
When is it safe to go to the Emergency Room?
But some dental issues must be treated as a medical emergency and would not be left to the dentist.
If you have any of these symptoms, you should get immediate medical attention:
- Difficulty breathing
- Difficulty swallowing
- Severe facial swelling
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- Facial and/or jaw injuries that are serious.
- Signs of a rapidly spreading infection
Symptoms could be life-threatening, and may need urgent hospital care.
When you experience sudden pain, swelling, bleeding or dental injury, you will immediately look for an emergency dentist near me.
Dental emergencies like broken teeth, dental abscesses, severe toothaches and knocked out teeth can be addressed by emergency dentists.
Treatment promptly can help alleviate pain and possibly help prevent the dental issue from worsening.