Emergency Dentistry FAQs
Even under the best circumstances, dealing with oral pain or a broken tooth still is never ideal and can cause major stress and anxiety. Fortunately, both of our dentist here at Ultimate Dental are able to deliver all kinds of emergency care to relieve your discomfort and get you out of pain and on with your life as soon as possible. To help you better prepare for any potential dental emergency in the future, here are the answers to some of our most frequently asked questions about emergency dentistry.
What Constitutes a Dental Emergency?
Obviously, a broken tooth caused by biting down on something too forcefully is a very different kind of dental emergency than one caused by an infection due to neglected oral hygiene. Because there are so many different kinds of oral health issues, it can be difficult to tell which ones warrant contacting your emergency dentist. The most common signs that you need urgent care are:
- Serious pain and discomfort
- Intense bleeding
- Teeth that are loose, broken, or dislodged altogether
Even if you’re unsure that what you’re going through is a dental emergency, it’s best to err on the side of caution and call us either way. Putting off treatment for a dental issue can result in the problem worsening over time.
Should I Go to the Emergency Room?
In some cases, your first instinct might be to visit the ER instead of your emergency dentist. This is usually the right call if you have a broken or dislocated jaw, profuse bleeding, or are having trouble breathing due to swelling; essentially, if you have a dental problem that could also be considered life-threatening.
However, for regular dental emergencies, your best bet is contacting your dentist’s office. Most emergency rooms aren’t well-equipped to deal with the root cause of dental emergencies, at best being able to write you a prescription for painkillers or antibiotics.
Will My Tooth Need to Be Removed?
You might think that the only way to relieve your pain is to have the problem tooth extracted. However, it’s in your best interest to exhaust all possible treatment options before removing the tooth. When you lose a tooth, your surrounding teeth shift out of place and you’re at a greater risk for further tooth loss. You’ll also have to consider the cost of a replacement. As much as possible, we’ll try to save your tooth with other treatments, but if extraction is necessary, then we’ll make the process as smooth as possible and consider all your options for replacing your tooth.
Do I Still Need Treatment If My Toothache Goes Away?
At first, you might be relieved that your tooth pain has subsided, but if the discomfort was due to an infection, your problem is far from over. A toothache that suddenly disappears might mean that the infection has spread to the center of the tooth and destroyed the nerve, effectively rendering the tooth “dead.” At this point, you’ll need root canal therapy to save your tooth from needing to be extracted and preventing the infection from spreading. Contact us right away so that we can save your tooth.