If you have a severe dental infection or other emergency, your first instinct may be to call the emergency room. However, hospitals and emergency rooms cannot provide dental care. This blog will explain what you should do if you need an emergency tooth extraction and why you should call an emergency dentist.
Why Hospitals Do Not Offer Emergency Dental Care
Hospitals and emergency rooms cannot offer emergency dental care because they do not staff dental practitioners. Most patients who visit the emergency room have suffered a significant illness or injury like a heart attack or car accident. Emergency rooms typically reserve care for life-threatening or otherwise dire situations.
Even if the ER doctor can extract a tooth, the procedure will likely cost much more out of pocket than visiting an emergency dentist.
Though the emergency room is not the ideal place to undergo tooth extraction, they can prescribe antibiotics and pain medication for patients experiencing severe dental infections. They can also treat facial injuries and trauma.
When You Should Visit the ER First
If you have any of the following issues, call the ER before your emergency dentist:
- Uncontrollable bleeding
- Broken facial bones
- Significant soft tissue injuries
After you are medically stable, call an emergency dentist to address your tooth injuries.
Finding an Emergency Dentist
Finding an emergency dentist before you need one is a good idea. If your family dentist does not provide emergency care, search the area for a practice that provides care during and after business hours.
You may wish to consider changing dental offices to a practice that offers emergency care so you will visit a familiar place. In this case, your dentist will also know your history and have better insights into helping protect your oral health.
Frequently Asked Questions About Emergency Dentistry
What is and is not considered a dental emergency?
Emergencies:
- Severe toothache that prevents eating, sleeping, or relaxing
- Soft tissue injuries to lips, cheeks, and tongue
- Knocked-out baby tooth
- Knocked-out permanent tooth
- Severely chipped or broken tooth
- Dental infection or abscess
Non-Emergencies Needing Prompt Care:
- Mild or dull toothache
- Object stuck between teeth
- Lost or broken dental restoration
- Minor chipped tooth
How does a tooth extraction work?
Your dentist will provide local anesthesia to keep you comfortable during the procedure. Then, they will gently loosen the tooth with a specialized instrument called an elevator and remove it. After extracting the tooth, the dentist cleans and disinfects the socket. You may need stitches to promote healing.
Call Oak Road Dentistry
Our Snellville, GA, office offers daytime and after-hours emergency dental care. To access our services, call 770-985-9559. During business hours, we will make every effort to see you as soon as possible. After office hours, call our office and follow the instructions provided. We will return your call as soon as we can.