If you experience a dental emergency like a knocked-out tooth or severe tooth pain, your best bet is to visit the emergency dentist. However, some people opt to visit the ER for such emergencies, eventually wasting time and money. It is more vital than ever to know where to go when you experience serious issues with your oral cavity. Continue reading to know what dental emergencies are and why you should reach out to the emergency dentist first before heading over to the ER.
When dental emergencies occur, acting promptly can make a remarkable difference in the effort to restore a patient’s smile. However, this does not mean rushing to the local ER. There are many benefits to calling the emergency dentist, including:
Lower chances of getting sick: Both dental practices and the ER staff have significantly high sanitation standards to keep patients and staff healthy. However, compared to the ER, fewer people will be visiting the dental office for treatment, so patients have lower chances of encountering a sick and contagious person.
Less waiting period: Emergency room personnel will try to treat every medical emergency that comes through the door, so patients with a dental emergency might need to wait a while before meeting the doctor. Dental practices only attend to issues related to the oral cavity and usually have business hours set apart for emergency visits, so the dentist should be able to provide proper treatment immediately.
Reduce overcrowding: Hospital ERs are sometimes filled, with medical professionals working around the clock to provide treatment for emergency patients. Visiting the emergency dentist instead of the ER frees up the treasured time and effort of the medical staff and allows them to focus on these concerns.
Probably the main reason not to go to the ER during a dental emergency is that patients may not get the care they need. The doctors in the emergency room may recommend antibiotics and pain relievers to provide temporary relief from pain or treat uncontrolled bleeding in the oral cavity and broken facial bones, but that is where it ends. They do not have the required training or experience to provide restorative dental care and handle issues like a cracked tooth or severe toothache.
Although a trip to the ER can help alleviate the symptoms related to the emergency, patients might not get a lasting solution to the underlying issue. Only a dentist has the training, experience and technology to provide proper treatment for those issues.
Unless you experience trouble breathing or swallowing, you should contact the emergency dentist for treatment of cracked or broken teeth, knocked-out or dislodged teeth, severe toothache, severe bleeding from the gums and soft tissues and facial swelling, which may indicate signs of infection. If you experience a dental emergency, consider avoiding the ER and meet with dental professional for solutions.
Request an appointment here: https://www.alanlevydds.com or call Alan S. Levy, DDS at (818) 668-9055 for an appointment in our Tarzana office.
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