When you or a loved one are experiencing unbearable pain or other intense symptoms, determining what to do next is not always easy. Some dental-related issues can be treated later in the day or in the near future. Other situations require immediate care from an experienced emergency dentist. Chaney Dental has outlined some general dental emergency guidelines that you can follow below. However, for specific advice, we recommend giving our front office a call. Someone on our experienced team will be able to help you determine the best way to obtain care for your specific dental emergency.
Emergency Room vs. Emergency Dentist
It is common for patients who have incurred dental-related injuries to visit an emergency room instead of heading to a nearby dentist that offers emergency dental care. Unfortunately, if the situation involves repairing teeth, gums, or the inside of the mouth, most ERs can’t help. They can only provide pain medication and a referral to an emergency dentist. Broken jaws are the exception. If you believe your jaw may be broken, first tie something around your head to hold your jaws together. Next, head to the nearest emergency room. It’s also a good idea to visit the ER first if you have sustained other injuries that require more urgent care than your dental emergency.
Common Dental Emergencies
Some situations are clearly emergencies. For instance, when a tooth is completely knocked out and needs to be reattached. Other issues like tooth pain and bleeding can be in more of a grey area. Dental pain that cannot be relieved with an ice pack or over-the-counter pain medication should be treated by an emergency dentist. Likewise, gum bleeding that doesn’t stop after applying pressure to the source of the bleeding for 15 minutes may require emergency attention. If a tooth is cracked or broken, we recommend contacting our office for advice.
Emergency Dentist in Prairie Village, KS
Still not sure if you need to schedule an emergency dental appointment? While our virtual contact form is convenient, call our office directly in situations where emergency dental care may be required. Our Chaney Dental team can respond faster, which means we can offer prompt treatment to relieve your symptoms and restore your oral health.
