Emergency Dentist Near Me

Dental emergencies happen, and when they do, many people are not prepared with an emergency dentist in mind and an idea of the necessary steps they should take. So, what can you do to be more prepared in case of a dental emergency? Below is more information on emergency dental services and tips on how to find services near you.

What is a dental emergency?

Not all accidents involving your teeth qualify as dental emergencies. The best way to determine if your situation requires emergency services is to contact your dentist. Dental accidents that may require immediate treatment include:

• Severe injury to your teeth or gums. Severe injuries will involve losing a tooth or excessive bleeding
• A serious infection or abscess causing pain, soreness or severe swelling
• Heavy bleeding after a recent dental procedure
• A chipped or fractured tooth

Overall, if your condition involves bleeding, severe pain, or damage to your teeth then you should see a dental practitioner who provides emergency services.

Loss of teeth or broken or cracked teeth: The most common dental emergency is lost, broken, or cracked teeth. At some point in your life you will likely have a fall or a sports-related injury that may cause the loss of tooth, a broken tooth, or a cracked tooth. In some cases, but not all, this accident may require emergency dental services. Making this determination between needing and not needing emergency services will depend on a few factors:

1) How many teeth are damaged?

2) Where in the mouth is the tooth located?

3) How severe the injury is (excessive bleeding, pain, gum injury)?

The safest and most efficient way to decide if you need immediate treatment is to call your dentist’s office and ask for help. If it is after hours, you should still call, your dentist’s voicemail may have an emergency number to call and/or instructions to follow for dental emergencies. A quick call to your dentist will give you guidance and get you on track to seeking appropriate dental care.

Where to go for emergency dental services

You’ve determined it is a dental emergency – but where should you go? The biggest mistake people make during a dental emergency is going to the hospital emergency room (ER).  The ER is not the best place to go for a dental emergency. Why? Because the ER is not setup to fully treat dental emergencies. In most cases, a visit to the ER will require another visit to a dentist, resulting is a delay in getting the care needed and extra costs. So, where should you go? A dentist who provides emergency services! If the accident involves injury to the face, including wounds or lacerations in the mouth and excessive bleeding, then heading to the ER may be the right choice, especially if the dentist office is closed. The most important thing is being safe and getting any bleeding stopped. Any large wounds or lacerations should be addressed immediately. If you do not need an ER, call your dentist’s office. If they are not available they will have steps to follow and a number to locate an emergency dentist.

More on Dental Emergencies : How Much Does Emergency Dentistry Cost?