What is considered a dental emergency?
A dental emergency is pretty much an emergency involving your tooth or mouth. It depends on what you need. It could be bleeding, pain, swelling, or a combination of these symptoms. It could involve tooth loss, a lost crown or veneer, an issue with your dental implant or implant crown, or a problem with your denture if something breaks. Essentially, it's an emergency involving your oral health.
When we talk about dental emergencies and how to handle each situation, there are three different situations a patient can experience.
The first is: when do I seek an emergency dentist? Obviously, when you're in a lot of pain or noticing quite a lot of bleeding, and it's an emergency but not to the point that it is life-threatening. If you lost a crown or veneer, your denture is broken, you can't function, your implant is loose, your implant crown popped out, or you lost your retainer or night guard, then you do need to call an emergency dentist.
We are very fast about getting you in, so please do not hesitate to call us. We'll accommodate you. No matter what time of day it is, we will try. Our team is really great about accommodating patients with true dental emergencies.
As a matter of fact, we're known for what I call great-quality "drive-through dentistry." What I mean by that is a patient can come in for a broken crown, and if we rush the case while maintaining excellent quality, you can have your crown two days later. The same applies to broken dentures.
For example, the other day I had a patient who was about to start eating food again and have their feeding tube removed. Their family member brought them in, and we started the denture process that same day because they would be eating again in about a month. We will be giving them their denture well before the feeding tube is removed. That's situation number one: you seek an emergency dentist in those types of situations.
The second, more serious situation is: when do I need to go to the emergency room? The answer is when the emergency dentist is not available and you have symptoms that could be life-threatening. Please do not wait.
The biggest concern I see is when swelling becomes severe. If you have significant facial swelling, you definitely need to see an emergency dentist. If the swelling begins moving up toward the eye or down toward the neck, do not hesitate to go to the emergency room. At that point, the swelling is not contained, and the medications we give you sometimes don't act fast enough.
After the immediate problem is resolved and the swelling has gone down, you definitely need to see either an emergency dentist if your dentist is not available or your own dentist. Severe swelling close to the eye or neck is especially important to monitor in children. If you've been swollen for several days and it's not going away, please go to the emergency room rather than waiting.
That leads me to the third type of situation. If you're missing your recare visits or you haven't seen your dentist in a while, just because you don't have any issues doesn't mean there isn't something going on. If you haven't had your yearly exam or a dental checkup in a while, your dentist is definitely the place to be.
For dental emergencies, you can always start with your own dentist. But emergencies can happen quickly, and if your dentist isn't available, you're more than welcome to seek an emergency dentist. We're here for you.
What are the common types of dental emergencies?
We addressed this a little bit in the previous question. A dental emergency can include many different problems involving the teeth, gums, or oral cavity, such as:
- Dental pain or swelling
- Bleeding
- A lost or broken crown or veneer
- Broken dentures or partial dentures
- A loose dental implant or implant crown
- A loose tooth
- A lost night guard or retainer
- Lost clear aligners
- A broken or lost orthodontic bracket
- Cuts, ulcers, or sores in the mouth
Grinding and clenching can sometimes be considered dental emergencies depending on the patient's condition. Headaches can also sometimes be related to a dental problem. You may go to your physician for headaches and forget to check with your dentist.
Anything affecting your normal daily function should be evaluated. If you can't speak comfortably, you've lost a veneer, you're experiencing significant pain or swelling, or something simply doesn't feel right, please seek care from your dentist or an emergency dentist. Again, we're here for you.
When is an emergency dental extraction needed?
An emergency dental extraction may be needed when a tooth is extremely loose. If you can actually touch your tooth and it moves back and forth, you may possibly need an extraction.
An extraction may also be necessary when a tooth has broken all the way down to the gum line or when there is severe swelling and the tooth is too damaged to save. The best way to know whether an emergency tooth extraction is necessary is to have the tooth evaluated by a dentist.
Why might you need an emergency root canal?
Usually, people need emergency root canals when they're in severe pain. That's the common denominator for emergency root canals, or root canals in general. What gets the patient to come in is usually significant pain or swelling.
If you're experiencing severe, pulsating pain and taking pain medication around the clock without relief, the problem may have progressed to the point of needing a root canal or possibly even an extraction. That usually requires an urgent visit to the dentist.
When it comes to root canals, the tooth has progressed beyond the point where a regular restoration can address the problem. We have to access the inside of the tooth and remove the affected tissue to help relieve the pain and treat the underlying problem.
Do you offer same-day emergency dental care?
Absolutely, we do. Do not hesitate to call us, and we will do our best to fit you in. Sometimes we even come in on weekends to accommodate patients, and we do have weekend appointments available by appointment. It depends on the severity of the dental emergency.
At the very least, we will try to get you in so we can figure out what's going on and take care of you. Whether that means medication, some type of temporary restoration, or the actual dental treatment depends on your situation. Every patient is different, but we definitely provide same-day emergency dental care whenever possible.
Can I schedule a late appointment for a dental emergency?
It is absolutely possible. Come in whenever your schedule permits, but it's always better to address a dental problem before it becomes an emergency. You don't want to wait. If you're having pain that comes and goes, then it's definitely time to see the dentist.
If you haven't seen a dentist in a while, it's also a good idea not to wait until an emergency happens. Regular dental visits can help you avoid finding yourself in a difficult situation, especially before traveling, attending an important gathering or event, or preparing for a wedding.
Again, we will fit you in the same day as much as we can. If that's not possible, we'll do our best to see you the next day. Feel free to call MA Dental today.
You’re never alone in caring for your dental health. At MA Dental, our team is here to support you. Call (951) 467-4399 or email [email protected] to connect with us today.