Dental crises that require an emergency dentist can happen to anyone at any time. Sometimes they are a result of a traumatic injury. Other times, they may be because of complications after surgery. There can be a fine line between what constitutes a dental emergency and a situation that warrants making an appointment with your dentist. One question you may have is whether you can simply walk into an emergency dental clinic. Here is how to recognize a dental emergency and what to do if you experience one.
A dental emergency can be broadly defined as a dental problem that is life-threatening or traumatic or causes severe pain. Life-threatening situations can include damaged facial bones that might prevent the patient from breathing properly, uncontrollable bleeding, or a serious bacterial infection. Other possible emergencies include acute dental pain, post-surgery inflammation, traumatic tooth fractures, or abscess.
Some procedures may require an emergency dentist in case of other post-surgery complications, such as removing sutures that have developed problems or repairing faulty restorations. Before undergoing dental surgery, your dentist should inform you of anything to watch out for that would constitute a crisis.
You will likely know if your dental problem constitutes an emergency because they are usually extremely painful or uncomfortable. However, some traumatic events may not constitute an emergency. For example, if a tooth falls out or you experience pain from a dental crown, you may not require urgent care unless the pain is excruciating or a tooth has been knocked out because of a traumatic impact, such as can happen when playing sports or biting on something too hard.
Generally, you do not need an appointment in the event of a dental emergency. Whether you need an appointment depends on the practice or emergency dentist you contact. Not all dental urgent care centers are open on weekends, for example. However, some care centers are open 24/7, and if you are not aware of any near you, you can find one by calling a hotline to connect you to an emergency dentist.
It helps to be prepared ahead of time before you experience a crisis. Ask your dentist about what numbers to call in case of a dental emergency and about any urgent care clinics in your area that can help with dental crises.
If you are left without any other options, you can visit your nearest emergency room. While many emergency rooms do not have dentists available, they may still be able to help you in a pinch. However, if at all possible, you should attempt to reach an emergency dentist first.
If you do not already know what number to call in case of a dental crisis, most dentists provide an emergency number on their office line. This number should connect you to an emergency dentist. Contact the number and follow the instructions given to you, whether that is to make an appointment or immediately go into the office.
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