How Can I Find an Emergency Dentist When I Need One Immediately?

Severe toothaches, fractures, and dislodged teeth are crisis situations that require immediate care to prevent further damage. Dental emergencies can be painful, stressful, and shocking, but they are never convenient. In fact, they always seem to happen at the worst possible time, and they can be made even worse if you don’t know how to get the care you need. Here are a few tips for finding an emergency dentist and scheduling an appointment when you need one most.

What Counts as a Dental Emergency?

While lost fillings, chipped veneers, or broken dental bridges are frustrating and incredibly inconvenient, they don’t count as dental emergencies. Dental emergencies are oral health issues that involve debilitating pain or require immediate action to prevent further damage. They can result from infections or injuries, and their being emergencies is usually quite obvious. A few dental emergencies include:

• Severe toothache: If tooth decay goes untreated, it will eventually progress until it infects the pulp at the center of the tooth. This results in severe, throbbing pain, and if it is allowed to continue it will lead to tooth loss or possibly dangerous secondary infections like sepsis or pneumonia.
• Fractured teeth: If a large section of structure breaks off of a tooth, the patient may experience severe pain and the tooth may be left vulnerable to infection. The missing piece can sometimes be reattached. Otherwise, it can be treated with a dental crown.
• Dislodged teeth: A tooth being knocked free of the gum constitutes a dental emergency, and its chances of being reimplanted begin to diminish after about an hour. If you’re worried about this happening, you can buy products that can keep a tooth in savable condition for up to twenty-four hours at a pharmacy.

How Can I Get the Care I Need If I Have a Dental Emergency?

It’s best to have an emergency dentist in your contacts list before you have an oral health crisis, but many people don’t make that consideration ahead of time. An internet search can provide a list of dentists along with customer reviews. If you’re going on vacation, it can be a great idea to research emergency dentists at your destination before you leave.

If your tooth has broken or become dislodged, the first thing to do is to locate and secure the missing piece if possible. Store it in a clean container with saliva or milk or place the dislodged tooth back in its socket if you can.

Call your dentist as soon as you can to schedule an emergency appointment. After you explain the situation, you may receive instructions for managing the situation until your session. If your dentist’s office is not open yet, an emergency room can provide you with antibiotics, pain relievers, and treatments to keep lost teeth in savable condition for up to twenty-four hours.

About the Author

Dr. Stephen Wardlaw graduated with his dental degree from the Baylor College of Dentistry in 1998 and regularly takes continuing education courses to stay on top of the latest developments in the field. He is a member of the American Dental Association, the State of Texas Dental Association, and the Academy of General Dentistry. His office in Arlington, TX offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. To schedule an emergency appointment, dial (817) 572-5115. Otherwise, contact his office online.