Dental emergencies always seem to strike when you least expect them, and they can ruin a good time, cause severe pain, and lead to serious oral health consequences down the line if they are not promptly treated. While it’s usually best to schedule an appointment with your emergency dentist to have an oral health crisis treated, there are some cases when the emergency room might be able to help. Here’s a brief overview of dental emergencies and how to tell if you should head to your dentist’s office or the ER.
What Counts as a Dental Emergency?
Dental emergencies include injuries or the emergence of underlying conditions that cause unbearable pain or require immediate treatment to be resolved. A few examples include:
- Severe toothache
- Severely chipped teeth
- Cracked teeth
- A partially dislodged tooth
- A knocked-out tooth
- Damage to or loss of a dental restoration like a crown, bridge, veneer, or filling
- A tooth abscess
- A severe soft tissue injury like a lacerated gum or lip
When Should I Head to My Emergency Dentist’s Office?
In virtually all dental emergencies, your emergency dentist is the best person to give you the care you need to relieve your pain and restore your oral health. Your dentist is equipped to eliminate the causes of painful oral infections, repair dental damage, treat minor soft tissue injuries, and safely remove teeth that cannot be saved. You will also probably receive prescriptions for pain relievers to help you stay comfortable afterward and antibiotics to prevent infections.
When Should I Head to the Emergency Room?
In some cases, the emergency room is the appropriate place to get care for a dental crisis. While it is not equipped to treat most oral health problems directly, the ER can often provide patients with pain medication and antibiotics to keep them comfortable until they can see their dentist. The emergency room can even provide treatments that can keep a dislodged tooth in savable condition for twenty-four hours. This makes the ER a great resource if you experience a dental emergency when your dentist’s office isn’t open.
In cases where the patient thinks their jaw may be broken, sustains severe lacerations in their soft oral tissues, or has symptoms of serious oral infection like fatigue, chills, or fever, an emergency room is the appropriate place to go for treatment.
While an emergency dentist is ideal for treating a dental crisis, the ER can be the best place to get care in some cases. Knowing where to turn for treatment when you have a dental emergency can help you reach its best possible outcome.
About the Author
Dr. Garry C. Phillips earned his dental degree at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and completes more than twelve hours of continuing education every year. He proudly serves as a member of the American Dental Association, the Texas Dental Association, and the Dallas County Dental Association. His office in Frisco offers family, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. If you are experiencing a dental emergency, please dial the front desk at (972) 712-0500. For other questions and concerns, contact his office online.