When to Visit an Emergency Dentist and What They Can Do for You
What is considered a dental emergency?
A dental emergency arises when a person is in extreme dental pain, which can be accompanied by a swollen face, swollen neck, fever, and difficulty swallowing food.
When do I need to see an emergency dentist versus going to an emergency room versus scheduling a regular dental appointment?
There are different levels of dental emergencies, and they need to be handled differently. If you're experiencing a toothache that keeps you up all night and a constant ache, you need to seek an emergency dentist.
In our office, we always leave room on our schedule for emergency patients. We see patients in pain on the same day.
If you're experiencing a toothache with facial swelling, neck swelling, and difficulty swallowing, you must see an ER doctor. This emergency is life-threatening.
If you have a toothache that is not debilitating or constant, you can be seen sooner than your regular dental appointment, but it can wait and not be considered a true dental emergency. That said, I usually recommend coming in and seeing us sooner than your regular checkup just to make sure that there are no potential issues that can lead to a dental emergency in the future.
What are common types of dental emergencies and what can be done?
There are different types of dental emergencies. Some include tooth pain and toothache. This is an emergency that needs to be addressed immediately. We can see you on the same day and diagnose the problem. In this case, you might need a root canal or tooth extraction. Abscess or swelling is a true dental emergency and requires immediate dental care. We often provide antibiotics. In some cases, we might send you to the ER for emergency care at the hospital to get medical help.
- Bleeding or inflamed gums: The majority of bleeding or inflamed gums without other symptoms will require deep cleaning. If the bleeding or inflamed gums are accompanied by extreme pain, a foul smell, and a change in color of your gums, then they require immediate attention. It's a dental emergency that can lead to gum necrosis.
- Tooth sensitivity: Tooth sensitivity usually is not a true dental emergency. However, it needs to be checked out and followed up with.
- Broken, fractured, or cracked teeth: Broken or fractured teeth are a true dental emergency and can lead to tooth loss. In this case, we need to check on it as soon as possible and determine if the tooth can be saved. Broken teeth can often be saved with crowns, bridges, or veneers. If they are not taken care of soon enough, they can be lost.
- Broken fillings: Broken fillings usually happen if there's an underlying cause, such as recurrent decay underneath the old filling that causes the filling to fracture or fall out. In this case, you need to see the dentist as soon as possible to replace the old filling, remove the cavity, and seal the tooth. If that's not done soon enough, it can cause dental infection and pain.
- Broken dentures: We will refer you to a specialist to handle broken dentures, or in some cases, I can repair them here at our office. I usually use the lab to send it out to add a tooth or a fractured piece of the denture. This usually requires about one to two days, and you will not have your denture for that amount of time.
- Loose or lost crowns, veneers, or bridges: Loose crowns, veneers, and bridges often show underlying teeth problems and need quick intervention. Depending on the underlying issue, occasionally it can be re-cemented or it needs to be completely redone.
When do I need an emergency dental extraction?
An emergency dental extraction can be done if there's no swelling and dental infection. In case of swelling and acute infection, we will put you on antibiotics first and then remove the tooth.
- Wisdom teeth extractions: We refer to an oral surgery specialist to remove wisdom teeth. Most of the time, it's not an emergency procedure.
- Simple extractions: Simple extractions are performed with small, uncomplicated teeth and take about two to three minutes.
- Surgical extractions: Surgical extractions are usually performed on molars or sub-premolars and usually require a bit longer time, sometimes 10 to 20 minutes to remove, but it's usually under half an hour.
When would I need a bone graft?
I recommend having a bone graft if you want bone preservation in its height and width for future implants or implant-supported dentures.
Is anesthesia available if the dental procedure is painful?
We offer several painless or minimal discomfort options with anesthesia.
Why might I need an emergency root canal?
You might need an emergency root canal if you are in a lot of pain that stops you from your normal dental activity.
Do you offer same day dental care?
Yes, we offer same-day care for dental emergencies. It depends on the condition if we can offer treatment on the same day or not.
Our appointments can be scheduled up to 4:30 p.m. every day.
Does Dental Care by Design have weekend appointments?
Yes, you definitely can be seen on the weekends if you're an existing patient of our office and experiencing a true dental emergency.
At Dental Care by Design, you come first. Whether you need dental care or simply have questions, call us at (360) 800-2372 or email [email protected] to schedule your visit. Our team is here to help you every step of the way.