Emergency Room or Emergency Dentist? Tips to Help You Decide

Knowing whether to contact the emergency dentist near you or visit the emergency room for your dental problem can be challenging. Most medical problems are dealt with in the emergency room, while dental problems that are regarded as emergencies are treated in the emergency dental clinic. We will help you understand what is considered a dental emergency and what is not. So, let’s get into it.

What is Considered a Dental Emergency?

The dentist in New Port Richey defines a dental emergency as any dental problem that needs urgent attention from an emergency dentist. For instance, have you been involved in an accident where your tooth was hurt and is severely bleeding and aching? Such a situation can necessitate you to seek urgent dental care near you. Why? Because when you have a bleeding and aching tooth, you cannot continue with your regular routine, and failure to look for urgent care can spell doom for your tooth.

Therefore, a dental emergency is a situation where you need to look for immediate dental care, failure to which can lead to tooth loss and affect other healthy teeth.

Urgent Dental Emergencies

As mentioned earlier, urgent dental emergencies are dental problems that can threaten your overall and oral health if not dealt with immediately. Here are examples of urgent dental emergencies:

• Knocked out tooth.
• A large chip or crack in the tooth.
• A large piece of your tooth is missing.
• Severe toothache.
• Loose tooth.
• Dental abscess.
• Jaw pain.
• Face and mouth swelling.

Non-Urgent Dental Emergencies

Non-urgent dental emergencies are dental problems that can be treated by scheduling a dental appointment at Dental Arts New Port Richey. This is because dental problems cannot put the oral and overall health of the patient at risk. For instance, if your tooth filling falls out, you don’t have to panic; call the dental clinic near you to schedule an appointment.

Examples of non-urgent dental emergencies include:

• Food stuck between teeth.
• A small crack or chip in your tooth.
• Mild toothache.
• Lost crown, dental bridge or crown.

Nevertheless, the sooner you book your next dental appointment, the better. For example, ignoring the small crack in your tooth can cause pain when chewing, bad breath, swollen gums and tooth sensitivity. So, seeking dental care as soon as possible would be better to prevent future complications.

When to Go to the Emergency Dentist

You don’t need to visit the emergency room for non-urgent dental emergencies. Severe dental complications are treated in the emergency room, so you might be advised to seek treatment at a dental clinic.

On the other hand, you should go to the emergency dental clinic when faced with the earlier listed urgent dental emergencies. Dr. Mitul Patel will examine your oral problem and determine the most suitable treatment.

When To Go to the Emergency Room

An accident can leave you with a fractured jaw. Should you go to the dentist or the emergency room in such a case? It would be best to go to the emergency room. Although dentists can deal with fractured jaws and other jaw problems, doctors in the emergency room are better equipped to deal with such emergencies.

Moreover, it is rare to find a dentist in an emergency room. So, if you have a mild dental problem and visit an emergency room, you might be given painkillers or antibiotics, depending on your problem and referred to your dentist.

Tips for Preventing Dental Emergencies

Now that you know the difference between urgent and non-urgent dental emergencies, there are ways to prevent them from occurring.

First, you should practice proper oral hygiene. Bleeding gums can be caused by periodontal disease, which can be due to poor oral hygiene. Therefore, to prevent this oral problem, floss at least once and brush twice daily.

If you participate in sports, always wearing a mouthguard would be best. This is because during sports, especially contact sports like rugby, you can injure your teeth. Fortunately, a mouthguard can protect them and other oral tissues from accidents.

Candies, soda, alcohol and coffee, among other foods, can sabotage the health of your teeth. Consuming hard foods can leave your teeth with small cracks, while drinking coffee and tea can stain your teeth. Limiting such foods and beverages for stronger and whiter teeth is recommended.