It’s important to know how to get proper care in an emergency. Familiarizing yourself with the locations of your local urgent care, emergency room, emergency vet clinic, and even your dentist can help save time in a dire situation. But knowing where to go in your time of need is not always obvious. Here are a few guidelines for when you should visit your dentist, and when you should head to the hospital for immediate care.
What is a Dental Emergency?
To know when to visit the dentist versus the ER, it’s important to know what constitutes a dental emergency. Urgent oral health situations can include:
- Painful swelling or toothache
- A jaw fracture or facial bone injury
- Loose or missing adult teeth
- Signs of a tooth infection such as an abscess
- bleeding
If you are experiencing any of these conditions, contact your dentist at once for further instruction. If, however, you are experiencing any of the following, while these should be evaluated by a dentist as soon as possible, they are not an emergency:
- A lost bridge, crown, or dental implant
- Damaged or broken teeth that are not experiencing severe pain
- A mild toothache
- A broken retainer, denture, or night guard
When to Head to the Emergency Room
Most ERs don’t have a dentist on staff, so heading there for an oral health emergency may delay your care. An emergency room can help stop persistent bleeding and treat pain, but they may not be able to resolve the actual condition that is causing that discomfort. Thus, only head to the ER under the following circumstances, or if advised by your dentist:
- Intense pain
- Persistent bleeding
- Injury to the jaw or facial bone
If you need a treatment such as a tooth extraction, crown, filling, or root canal, chances are you will still need to visit your dentist after you leave the ER. Thus, it can save time and help ease pain faster to simply contact your dentist first. While you still may be referred to the emergency room for immediate assistance, consulting your dentist should be your first course of action.
About Dr. Tehrani
Dr. Shabnam Tehrani is a Florida native who grew up in the very same community she founded Allure Dental Boutique in. She enjoys providing high quality oral health care to patients of all ages, whether they just need a regular exam and cleaning or are experiencing a dental emergency. Experience the difference of Dr. Tehrani and her team while achieving your oral health goals by scheduling an appointment on our website, or calling us today at 813-751-3044.