A broken tooth or a sudden toothache can cause a serious degree of pain. You may not even be able to carry out your daily activities! In such a situation, you might think about heading to the local emergency room for care. But is that the best thing to do? Should you visit the ER for a dental emergency, or should you call your dentist? This blog post provides some helpful guidance.
When to Call Your Dentist First
The unfortunate truth is that most hospital emergency departments simply do not have the equipment or personnel to properly address dental emergencies. They are unlikely to have a dentist or another oral health professional on-hand who can properly assess the situation and provide appropriate care.
For issues like toothaches, lost crowns, damaged braces, broken teeth, and even totally knocked-out teeth, the ER team might not be able to do anything other than advise you to call your dentist. In some cases, they might provide pain medication.
Therefore, the best thing you can do is get in touch with a local dental practice that offers emergency care. Call them and describe your problem. Depending on the situation, they may be able to schedule you for a same-day appointment. At the very least, they can provide personalized advice to help you minimize your pain.
What if Your Dentist Is Not Open?
If your dental emergency occurs outside of your dentist’s normal business hours, you may be able to take steps on your own to manage the situation until you can book an appointment. Here are some tips:
- Take over-the-counter pain relievers.
- Use a cold compress to minimize swelling.
- Swish with warm salt water.
- Eat soft foods and avoid chewing with your damaged tooth.
- If a crown or filling fell out, try to reattach it with a dab of toothpaste or store it in a small container.
When to Visit the ER
Of course, there are some situations in which you should visit the ER. Here are a few examples:
- You have a severe toothache that is accompanied by a high fever.
- You are having difficulty breathing or are experiencing other life-threatening symptoms.
- You have an oral wound that is bleeding uncontrollably.
- You believe you have a broken or dislocated jaw.
- You were in an accident that damaged your mouth and other parts of your body.
After the hospital staff provides initial care, you should visit your dentist for follow-up treatment.
A dental emergency can be scary! Knowing whom to go to for help can make the situation a little less intimidating.
Meet the Practice
Our team at All Dental in Westborough is proud to provide emergency dental services for our community. With our weekend and evening hours, we strive to accommodate our patients’ busy schedules, and we are often able to accept urgent cases on a same-day basis. To learn more about how we may be able to serve you or to request an appointment, contact our office at 508-217-7265.