Emergency Dentistry 101: The Eye-Opening Guide
Dental emergencies will always come knocking when you least expect. You can be enjoying a nice picnic burying yourself at work or even walking down a flight of stairs, and all of a sudden, you need emergency dental services.
As you know, you cannot predict when you will be in the thick of things trying to figure out what to do during a dental emergency. However, the best thing to do is to plan to ensure that you know where you will get treatment and you have our dentist’s contacts.
Prevention is always the way to go, but at times life deals you a blow, and this is why you need to equip yourself with information that can reduce the chances of permanent damage.
One of the things that will rack your brain is trying to distinguish if you are in a dental emergency or not.
How Do You Know You Need Emergency Dentistry?
Being in a dental emergency is nothing new, and they are quite common and can be anything ranging from excruciating toothaches to locked jaws. Plus, there is no age restriction, meaning that your toddler or grandparent can be in a dental emergency.
However, not every issue you face will be classified as a dental emergency, even if it seems dire. To help you decipher what you are facing, answer the following questions:
- Do you have loose permanent teeth?
- Have you lost a permanent tooth, or is it partially out?
- Are you bleeding incessantly?
- Is your tooth broken, causing you a lot of pain, and bleeding?
- Is your gum swollen and filled with pus, and you have bad breath, feel feverish, and have a metallic taste in your mouth?
Are you having a severe toothache that seems not to subside?
Is your response “yes” to any of the above queries? If you have, then you are in a dental emergency, and you need emergency dental services near you. If you need immediate treatment to save a tooth, stop bleeding, and alleviate severe pain, it is a clear indicator that you are in a dental emergency. This is a helpful principle that you can apply if you need to identify whether you are in an emergency or not.
If you have a fever accompanied by swollen gums, you need to seek emergency care immediately since an abscessed tooth can lead to other overall health problems.
Remember, dental emergencies need to be addressed promptly because every minute counts. The longer you wait, the higher the chances of having permanent damage.
What Isn’t a Dental Emergency?
Generally, if our dentist can address the issue later, even a day or two later, the issue will not be classified as a dental emergency. Sometimes when an issue arises, it may seem dire at the moment, only to find that our dentist can solve it after a few days.
For example, our dentist can look at your tooth during regular office hours if you have a cracked tooth and are not in pain and there are no fragments lodged in your gums.
Also, let’s say that you have lost a filling; it may seem like a dental emergency. However, this is an issue that our dentist can look at later. Also, toothaches can seem annoying, but you can visit our dentist during regular office hours if it is not severe and persistent.
How Do You Handle Dental Emergencies?
Remember that panicking only makes things worse when you are in a dental emergency. Therefore, compose yourself, examine the situation, and call our emergency dentist.
Once you have made the phone call, follow the first-aid instructions while heading to our office for emergency dental treatment.
What Services Are Offered Within Emergency Dentistry?
Our dentist can use a myriad of treatments to restore your smile. You might receive different procedures that might include:
- Fillings
- Root canal therapy
- Crown repair and placement
- Treating infections
- Denture repair
- Simple and surgical dental extractions
- Bridge repair
- Dental bonding
The Takeaway
Dental emergencies are similar to medical emergencies. Therefore, planning for them would be prudent. You’d rather plan for them and be lucky enough not to experience one than not plan and find yourself confused, wondering what you will do. In any case, we are here for you. Therefore, contact us at Heavenly Smiles Dentist for emergency dental services.