Featured Emergency Dentistry Articles

What Is Emergency Dentistry?

The need for emergency dental services seems to happen at the worst time for children and adults! When an emergency arises, it's vital that you know which dentists in your area offer emergency dental care. Emergency dental services are dental problems requiring treatment the day they happen or the next day. Learn more about what creates a need for emergency dental care and how to find an emergency dentist in your area who can help you.

What Can Dentists Do for Emergencies?

A dentist can evaluate and provide immediate dental help for many tooth-related issues that result from an infection, accident, or other reasons. In addition, The Smile Generation® team of dentists offers extended hours six (6) or seven (7) days a week.

What Is Considered a Dental Emergency?

Anything that could cause the risk of serious medical or dental complications is a need for emergency dental care. For instance, emergency dentists specialize in preventing permanent dental problems as a result of an accident. Often, emergency dental situations arise because of an accident, but that's not always the case. For example, you may have a dental emergency if:

1. You have been in an accident: If you have been in an accident and sustained an injury to your mouth or jaw area, this will be considered a dental emergency. Chipped or broken teeth or broken jaws are usually the result of accidents from facial trauma and require immediate care.
2. You are in severe pain: Severe pain is a sign of an infection. You may need antibiotics and pain relief to address the cause of oral pain. As a result, prompt emergency care may lessen the damage to surrounding teeth and the immediate problem.
3. You have pus coming out from your gums: Pus or a visible abscessed tooth are also signs of an infection. This type of infection is called a periapical abscess. These infections won't go away without treatment and antibiotics, so it's essential to see your dentist if you think you have one. If left untreated, an infection can spread to your jaw or other areas.
4. You lost a tooth: If the tooth was a permanent tooth, you must go to the dentist immediately to save the tooth. Depending on the placement of your teeth, a missing tooth could eventually cause your other teeth to shift.
5. You have excessive bleeding in the mouth: There are many causes for excessive bleeding. The most common reasons are severe gum disease and accidents.

When Should You See an Emergency Dentist?

The most common symptom requiring emergency dental care is severe toothache or tooth pain. But, other symptoms mean you should see a dentist right away. The most common symptoms include:

• Tooth loss: Permanent teeth do more than enhance our Smile. They help us eat and speak. See the dentist right away, and hopefully, they save your tooth.
• You have severely broken or chipped teeth: A single chipped tooth may not require emergency dental services and could wait a few days. However, suppose you have experienced facial trauma in an accident and have multiple chipped or broken teeth or damage that restricts normal function. In that case, you should see an emergency dentist.
• You have a severe toothache: If you have a severe toothache, it could be a sign that something is wrong with the tooth or tooth's root. In this situation, you may need an emergency root canal. Look for emergency dental services right away to stop the issue from getting worse.
• Your gums bleed and hurt: This could be a sign of early gum disease. However, if the bleeding is excessive, happens regularly, or makes your gums hurt, you may have a dental emergency.
• A swollen jaw: Upper or lower swelling of your jaw is a sign of an infection or break. In this case, seek out emergency care as soon as possible. If jaw swelling has occurred after facial trauma, you may have a broken jaw and should go to the emergency room.
• You have gum disease, and it's getting worse: You may notice that your teeth are separating, your gums bleed more or an abscess.

Emergency Dentists Help More Than You Know

It would be best to consider looking for a local emergency dentist to fit you right in when you need their help most. You do not want to leave your teeth and smile in the hands of an untrained specialist in an ER that might do something wrong with your mouth and ruin it. The American Dental Association (ADA) President Chad P. Gehani states:

The American Dental Association recognizes the unprecedented and extraordinary circumstances dentists and all health care professionals face related to growing concern about COVID-19. Concentrating on emergency dental care will allow us to care for our emergency patients and alleviate the burden that dental emergencies would place on hospital emergency departments.

In reality, The Smile Generation® team of emergency dentists can change your life in mere minutes. How is this possible? Finding a dentist specializing in emergency dental services alleviates the pain and discomfort. You will need to talk to the best emergency dentist and see what they have to say about your situation for that to happen.

Before a dental emergency happens, learn what your local emergency dentist would want you to know. The Smile Generation® believes this allows you to handle the situation better while waiting to get to the dental office.

1. Do you have the name and number of a local emergency dentist on your cell phone?
2. If you do not, you should because dental emergencies can happen at any time and age.

Tips for Common Dental Emergencies

A chipped, broken, and knocked-out tooth would all be considered a dental emergency. If your teeth are extruding or partially dislodged, this would also be a reason to go to seek out emergency dentistry care. If you have lost a filling or crown or have a mild toothache, this may not be an emergency. But, if you are in extreme pain, there is no reason to suffer, and you should get treatment right away.

If you have broken your tooth, The Smile Generation® would advise that you try to keep the pieces that have broken off. First, rinse them, and then get to your local emergency dentist as quickly as possible. Also, if your tooth no longer remains in your mouth, the very first thing you must do is try to hold your tooth by the crown and not the root. Next, have someone rinse if it has become dirty and make an effort not to remove any tissue fragments. After that step, please call your local dentist's office and have someone drive you. Our goal is to save your tooth and alleviate your pain.

If you find yourself dealing with acute tooth pain, check first to make sure nothing is lodged between your teeth or underneath the gum line. Then, if you see an object or piece of food, carefully remove it using a toothpick or dental floss. If this does not help, then you need to visit the dental office to have it removed.

Sometimes extreme tooth pain can be caused by a broken or chipped tooth. If you do not see anything lodged in your teeth, look carefully to see if the tooth is damaged. Follow the instructions for damaged teeth if it is. Outside of these two problems, you will need emergency dental treatment to help determine the cause of your tooth pain. The extent of your pain will dictate whether or not you need to visit the emergency dentist.

Your teeth are not the only things you can injure. If you damage any of the soft tissues in the mouth, including your gums, lips, tongue, or cheeks, you may need to seek an emergency dentist. If you do suffer an injury, rinse your mouth with a saltwater mix. Most of the time, you can control bleeding and pain on your own. However, any bleeding that does not stop using gauze and pressure after fifteen (15) to twenty (20) minutes needs to be addressed by your local emergency dentist.

Find an Emergency Dentist Before You Have One.

The Smile Generation® recommends finding the best, local emergency dentist in your area before you have one. We connect you with trusted, experienced, and qualified emergency dental offices. We strive to be your trusted resource for all your dental health needs. If you are wondering where to find an emergency dentist near me, click here to use our tool "Find an Emergency Dentist". You may also call us at +1 (800) 764-5343 or use our Website's Live Chat feature located in the lower right-hand corner of your screen.

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