Blog

What is an Emergency Dentist?

As the name implies, an emergency dentist is a dentist who provides emergency dental care to patients. Emergency aspects can include abscesses, loose teeth, a chipped tooth, infections, and severe tooth pain. An emergency dentist may also offer emergency tooth extraction in Bronx, endodontic services for pulpitis (tooth pain), periapical abscess (pus near the tooth), and dental fractures.

Emergency dentistry is different from other types of dentistry because emergency dental conditions are rare, severe, sometimes incapacitating, and often pain-causing. Emergency visits may also happen on weekends or holidays when regular dentist offices are closed.

The emergency dentist provides emergency services while maintaining an awareness that emergency dental conditions and emergency treatment may be painful and that services require special skills and understanding.

Here are some things to know in case a dental emergency strikes.

When to See an Emergency Dentist

An emergency dentist is usually called upon when dental emergencies arise that can’t wait for a regular appointment. These can include dental pain, lack of sleep, lifestyle changes (e.g., trauma), and injuries to the teeth or other parts of the mouth.

Symptoms of and signs of dental emergencies include:

● Swelling in your gums
● Severe dental pain
● Severe tooth sensitivity
● Gum bleeding that does not stop
● Locking of your jaw
● A lost tooth from trauma

Many conditions may be considered an emergency. However, not all emergencies require emergency treatment. If you are unsure if your dental issue is an emergency or not, contact your emergency dentist. The dental team will help guide you to relieve symptoms at home and decide whether you need to seek urgent dental care immediately or if you can wait for a later appointment.

Call 911 or go to the emergency room for emergency care if:

● You cannot breathe or talk because of severe facial pain or swelling.
● You have a head, neck, chest, or stomach injury.
● Your lips and mouth feel numb and tingly.
● Your face is drooping on one side (and you can’t control it).

Emergency Dentists are on call 24/7

Emergency dentists are on call 24/7 because accidents can happen, and some emergencies simply cannot wait. A dental emergency can occur at any time, especially on weekends or holidays. Because emergencies may arise during off-hours, emergency dentists provide urgent dental treatments to patients.

It is beneficial for a patient to call the emergency dentist first to guide you through self-care steps until your arrival during a dental emergency.

An emergency dentist can also help assess whether or not you need emergency dental treatment at a local emergency dentist or if it can wait until a regular appointment. If you have a severe emergency that cannot go untreated any longer, call 911 or go to the emergency room immediately.

Failure to seek emergency dental care could lead to your condition worsening.

Some of the dangers of not treating a dental emergency include:

● Tooth loss
● If there is an infection, it can spread to the rest of your body
● Further cosmetic concerns

When to Visit Your Regular Dentist After a Dental Emergency

You should follow the dental instructions given by your emergency care provider, including how much time to wait before you see your regular dentist. Your emergency dentist must assess whether or not you need emergency dental care that cannot wait until your next appointment. If this is the case, your urgent care dentist will explain when it is safe to return for regular dental care.

Where To Find an Emergency Dentist

Some local dentist offices do not offer emergency services, so what do you do when a dental emergency occurs?

The first thing you will want to do is remain calm, and if there is a knocked-out tooth, keep it moist if you can find it. Next, you will want to search for emergency dentistry near you. Some dental offices offer emergency dentistry, but not all offer 24/7 service. Depending on the time of day, weekend, or holiday, you may need to find a 24/7 emergency dental clinic. After you locate an emergency dentist, give them a call and explain your situation or have someone help you if you are unable to talk. The dental staff will be able to provide further instructions for a treatment plan.

Throgs Necks Dental is your emergency dentist in the Bronx, and we provide emergency dental services to patients of all ages. We want to ensure you receive prompt relief from emergency dental pain and discomfort, so we answer our phones 24/7 and always have emergency dentists on staff.

Our emergency dentists are experts in treating a wide range of emergency issues and can help guide you through emergency measures that can be taken at home until your emergency dentist arrives.

If you have a dental emergency, call us right away at 718-518-8100.