An emergency dentist deals with dental emergencies. A dental emergency is classified as any situation involving profuse bleeding, excessive pain or requiring prompt medical attention to save the tooth. You may be able to avert emergencies by going to your family dentist for routine cleaning and examination. But, accidents are out of your control.
When the problem happens, your first call should be to the emergency dentist. Failure to treat the dental issue could cause complications and intense dental procedures. This article focuses on emergency dentists, how to identify dental emergencies and the steps you can take.
If you experience any of the following, you should contact the emergency dentist as soon as possible:
It is possible to postpone treatment for minor symptoms. But, you should never take the chances of delaying treatment for serious issues. This may jeopardize your dental or overall health. In the case of severe discomfort or disturbing symptoms, head straight to an emergency room. Call 911 for quick assistance if it occurs in the night or weekend. If the emergency occurs during office hours, contact an emergency dentist immediately.
When emergencies occur, you may be unsure of whether to go to the hospital’s emergency room or visit the emergency dentist. The answer to this depends on the nature of the emergency. Like every medical emergency, the amount of care required for dental emergencies depends on their severity.
There are many dental emergencies concerning the face or mouth that require emergency medical care. These include jaw fractures and dislocations, severe cuts to facial or mouth tissues or a tooth abscess with swelling that impedes breathing and swallowing. If your immunity is compromised or you suffer from a preexisting chronic condition, you need to get treatment from an emergency doctor or at a hospital.
Situations that require a visit to the emergency room include accidental trauma to the head or neck, severe swelling, profuse bleeding, abrupt or intense pain and problem with breathing and swallowing. These are instances where you should call 911 or visit the emergency room. Do not delay treatment for a possibly life-threatening situation.
Emergencies such as tooth fracture or breakage that occur while eating a hard substance could be treated by the emergency dentist if there is no excessive bleeding. A knocked-out tooth from a fall and not a violent injury (like an auto crash or fight) can also be handled by the dentist. Other emergencies such as broken fillings, painful cavities and abscess pain do not need emergency room visits as well.
The pain from tooth abscess or decay can be intense. But, if it is not affecting your breathing and swallowing, you can simply call your emergency dentist for help. Usually, when the emergency involves the tooth only, your dentist is the best person. This is because ERs do not have the proper tools or skills to save or repair teeth.
When there is a dental emergency, you should try to stay as calm as possible. If you do not treat the problem on time, you could face severe consequences such as infections, tooth loss and costly dental procedures. Accidents can happen at any time of the day or night; therefore, you should keep the contact of your emergency dentist handy for such situations. Make a call to an emergency dentist immediately and do not postpone treatment.
Lilburn Family Dentistry is located at 331 Arcado Rd NW Suite D Lilburn, GA 30047.