When a dental accident occurs, you want to make sure that you have a plan. Knowing what to do, where to go, and how to best manage your pain will ensure that you avoid further damage while also getting the timely care you need. But how can you tell when the situation warrants a visit to the ER or your emergency dentist? Every injury is different, so keep reading to find out why most situations are best left to a trusted oral healthcare professional.
When is Visiting the ER Necessary?
Ask any dentist and they’ll tell you that there are only a few situations that require you to visit your local ER to receive immediate medical attention. These include:
- Excessive Bleeding: You’ve suffered a dental injury that causes excessive bleeding, and you cannot get it to stop after 10-20 minutes.
- Fractured or Broken Jaw: You’ve sustained a facial injury that results in a fractured or broken jaw.
- Increased Swelling: You have an infection (abscess) or injury that causes increased swelling and it inhibits your ability to breathe.
Seeking help from a physician in these instances is necessary. While they may only be able to address the existing symptoms, you can get the baseline care that you need before seeing your emergency dentist.
What Kind of Emergencies Can Be Treated by Your Dentist?
If you are experiencing a non-urgent dental emergency, there is no need to visit your local ER. Instead, your dentist can provide the help that you need to avoid further problems. But what is considered a non-urgent emergency?
- A lost dental crown or filling
- Very sensitive teeth
- A cracked or chipped tooth
- A knocked-out tooth
- Soft tissue laceration
- Jaw pain (TMJ)
- Broken prosthetics
Why Seeing an Emergency Dentist Is Better Than the ER
When asking patients if they had their choice to go to the ER or their emergency dentist for help, most would answer with the latter. There are many reasons why you don’t need to rush to the hospital to receive non-urgent oral healthcare, such as:
- You will spend hours waiting in the ER lobby to receive help, while an emergency dentist will see you much sooner and provide essential treatment.
- ER doctors and nurses can only treat the symptoms associated with your situation, whereas your dentist will provide more thorough treatment.
- You will incur an expensive ER bill as opposed to being able to use your dental insurance to help cover the cost of your emergency visit and treatment.
- Only licensed dentists can provide emergency dental care. It is illegal for any other health professional to administer tooth extraction, a root canal, or any other similar service.
Save yourself the time and money of visiting an ER; instead, seek the help of your trusted emergency dentist who will help you out of pain and get back to living your life as normal.
About the Practice
Westgate Dental Care consists of a team of dental experts who provide same-day emergency treatment for those in need. When faced with a sudden dental injury, you can expect our dentists to move quickly to address the pain and restore your smile using the most advanced restorative solutions. If you are unsure whether you should visit your local ER or our office, check out our website or call us at (847) 908-3684.