An unexpected dental problem can be a terrifying and stressful experience. Accidents that cause damage to or the loss of teeth, as well as any kind of pain in the tooth or jawbone, are examples of situations that qualify for urgent dental care and the need for emergency dentists.
If you’re experiencing a dental emergency, your first step should be to contact a 24-hour dental clinic where you can get emergency dentists on call.
To Clarify, What Exactly Do Emergency Dentists Do?
The term “emergency dentists” refers to general dentists who have additional education and experience to handle urgent dental care needs. After completing a four-year program in dentistry, emergency dentists qualify to practice legally and even have an emergency dental office. While regular dentists have their own schedules, those who specialize in emergency dental care are only available during certain hours.
In most cases, dentists who can see patients in an emergency can be reached via telephone. They may be called to the hospital’s emergency room to treat patients who have been injured in a vehicle crash, have fallen, or are in severe pain for any other reason. Today’s dentists usually have a dental office and a 24-hour emergency service. Your 24-hour emergency dentist might also serve as your regular dentist. Do not hesitate to contact your emergency dentist if you find yourself in need of immediate dental care. Find the number for the nearest dental clinic that offers after-hours care if you don’t have one.
What to Anticipate from a 24-Hour Dental Emergency Clinic
After you’ve scheduled an appointment and arrived at the dental clinic, a preliminary checkup will be conducted. The emergency dentist cannot properly diagnose your condition without knowing about all of your symptoms. Don’t assume that emergency dentists will be able to do a complex dental procedure like a root canal, extraction, or dental surgery on the spot.
Your dentist will probably prescribe pain medication or schedule a visit with a specialist to help with your discomfort. If you need to see a dentist after hours and don’t have emergency dental insurance, you’ll have to pay out of pocket. In fact, unless it’s your family dentist, you should bring your entire medical history and insurance information with you.
Emergency Dental Services for Dental Emergencies
An emergency dental services provider can help treat an emergency condition by providing you with pain medication, anti-inflammatory medicines, and even antibiotics to treat an infection.
However, if you’re having tooth discomfort and you aren’t sure if you need to see a dentist right away, here are several situations in which you absolutely should.
Damage to One or More Natural Teeth
Warm saltwater rinses might help clean the gums and alleviate discomfort after a tooth has been shattered or fractured. If you take the loose tooth to an emergency dentist immediately, they may be able to save it.
A Misplaced or Damaged Crown
Losing a crown may not seem like a major problem, but it is actually a common dental emergency that needs immediate attention. An emergency dentist can help you if you need a crown repaired or replaced.
Extreme Tooth Pain
Patients frequently seek out emergency dental care when they are experiencing severe pain in their teeth. A toothache can strike suddenly or develop gradually over time. Because it could be the root of a more serious problem, this issue shouldn’t be put off until your next checkup.
Bleeding Gums
When gums bleed easily, it’s time to visit an emergency dentist to rule out more serious problems.
Emergency Dental Care for Abscessed Tooth Pain
Abscesses are infected bumps that can appear around the tooth’s base or in the pocket created by the teeth and gums. Tissue and teeth in the immediate vicinity of an abscess might be severely compromised. Your face or jaw may swell if the infection is not treated, and it may spread to other parts of your body if you ignore it.
Your dentist should be your first port of call if you suspect you have an abscess in your mouth. Rinsing your mouth with a mild saltwater solution (1/2 teaspoon of table salt in 8 ounces of water) many times a day will help alleviate the pain and bring the pus to the surface while you wait for medical attention.
An Extracted Tooth or One That Has Been Knocked Out
If you have an abscessed tooth because of a fall or other traumatic injury to your natural teeth, you should see a dentist right away. Putting your tooth in a container of milk and taking it to the dentist will help it survive until you can get it restored.
Exposed Tooth Nerves
An exposed nerve in a tooth is one of the most excruciating dental emergencies a patient can experience. The emergency dentists can treat the gum disease that has caused the exposed nerve and administer desensitizing medicine or fluoride gels to the gums to alleviate the excruciating pain.
Traumatic Damage to Soft Tissues
Your lips, gums, tongue, and cheeks are all sensitive tissues that are prone to bleeding if injured. You can stop the bleeding at home before getting emergency dental care by doing the following;
- Gargling with a saltwater solution that is not too strong.
- Applying pressure to the wound with a damp gauze pad or a caffeinated tea bag. Do this for the next 15 to 20 minutes, and do not move. (Tannic acid found in tea can constrict blood vessels and reduce bleeding.)
- Put a cold compress on the outside of your mouth or cheek for five to ten minutes to stop the bleeding and ease the pain. However, if the bleeding persists, make sure to see an emergency dentist immediately. But while waiting to visit your dentist, keep applying pressure to the wound with the damp gauze.
Perhaps I’m having a Dental Emergency, but I’m Not Sure. How Should I Proceed?
There are also times when you don’t need immediate dental care. While it is advisable to visit the dentist as soon as possible, especially if you are unsure about your condition, it is also fine to wait for an appointment during regular business hours. You should get an regular appointment if you experience the following;
- A weak or dull dental pain.
- A little crack or chip in a tooth.
- Braces that are broken.
- A foreign body caught in your teeth.
- A sustained minor injury to soft-tissue (like a small cut or sore).
However, if your bleeding or pain is significant, you should visit a dentist for emergency dental care immediately.
What Should I do to Alleviate my Pain before Seeking Emergency Dentist Service Near Me?
Alleviating dull or minor toothache
You should gargle with warm water. Examine the space between your teeth with floss to determine if anything has become stuck there. An over-the-counter analgesic such as acetaminophen, naproxen, or ibuprofen may also come in handy to alleviate the minor toothache. However, do not apply aspirin straight onto your gums, as it can burn the soft tissue of your mouth.
Minor crack or chip in the tooth
When a cracked or chipped tooth isn’t causing any discomfort, you might put off seeing a dentist. However, you should use orthodontic wax to protect your tongue and cheeks from any sharp edges. (Orthodontic wax is sold in the dental care section of most drugstores.)
broken or damaged braces
In most cases, broken braces don’t warrant immediate dental attention unless the patient is experiencing severe bleeding. If a sharp piece of wire has broken off and is poking you in the face or tongue, you can smooth it out by bending it gently with an eraser or other blunt item. Then, use orthodontic wax to conceal the wire until your next dentist or orthodontist appointment.
Foreign matter stuck between teeth
Dental floss or an interproximal brush can help remove small objects from between your teeth if they become caught in there. Never use needles or tweezers to remove something caught between your teeth as you could injure your soft tissue leading to severe bleeding and even an infection.
Minor laceration or strain of the soft tissues
Be sure to give your mouth a thorough rinsing with either salt water or an antimicrobial mouthwash. Put some pressure on the sore spot with some clean cotton gauze. Within 15 to 20 minutes, the bleeding ought to have ceased. If bleeding persists after that, medical attention is required immediately.
When should I visit the Emergency Room for a Toothache?
If you have tooth pain while your dentist’s office is closed, you should visit the local emergency room. The emergency room personnel can provide temporary relief until you can see a dentist. But you should never mistake emergency room treatment of your tooth pain, as the ultimate solution to your condition. It should only be viewed as a temporary option to help keep the pain at bay and your mind at ease until you see a real specialist dentist.
To what extent can a toothache really be helped by an Emergency Room?
Antibiotics and painkillers are just two of the many drugs available in an emergency room that might help you feel better. However, they don’t do restorative services like fillings or crowns. Once again, getting dental emergency care at the ER isn’t the end of the process; you’ll still need to see your dentist as soon as they return to the office.
FAQs About Emergency Dentist Service Near Me
When would I need an after-hours emergency dentist?
Situations that qualify as dental emergencies would include the following: extreme dental pain, poorly broken teeth, tooth knocked out by a blow, a tooth that has been dislodged from its socket, abscessed teeth (swelling of your face and jaw) and so on.
Exactly what sets an emergency dentist apart from a general dentist?
Dentists that specialize in dental emergency care are better equipped to handle unforeseen accidents, whereas general dentists are better suited to handle normal dental care. Despite the fact that some family dental clinics are equipped to handle unexpected cases, others are not. However, while emergency dentists are qualified to provide general dentistry services, they typically do not.
Is it possible to get a tooth extracted by emergency dentists?
Contact your dentist immediately if you suspect you need an immediate dental extraction. Depending on the circumstances, you may have to wait before being seen. Don’t put off going to the dentist if you are unable to make an immediate appointment. But get yourself to an emergency room where emergency dentists may offer you some assistance.
Is it acceptable to call a dental emergency an actual medical emergency?
In the dentistry field, a dental emergency is defined as any condition that necessitates rapid care to prevent further injury, relieve excruciating pain, or save a tooth. This is also true for potentially fatal infections.
World Class Emergency Dental Care Available at Epic Dental Center
You can get world-class emergency dentists and emergency dental care services at Epic Dental Center. Apart from catering to your dental emergency needs, we also provide an all-encompassing professional dental practice involving preventative dentistry, general dentistry, restorative dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and family dentistry at our dental office in Houston, Texas. Get in touch with us by booking an online appointment or calling our hotline -tel:7133659904 today ad save yourself the hassle, discomfort, stress, and extra cost of seeking emergency dentist services with the preventative dentistry treatment options that we offer.
