When you have a dental emergency, you want to get oral health care from your emergency dental care specialist as soon as you can. However, some dental problems that seem like they need urgent care can be more minor than you think, while actual dental emergencies can originally present as minor. Knowing the difference between a dental emergency and one that is not a serious situation can help you get the oral health care you need appropriately.
Do you have a dental emergency or can it wait? Use this guide to assist you.
Have you been in an accident?
If you've been in an accident where your mouth was injured, it's in your best interest to make an appointment with a same-day emergency dentist as soon as you can, providing you don't have any other serious injuries that require you to be sent to the emergency room. Small teeth fractures and cracks can be hard to see with the naked eye, and you can have a tooth get knocked loose without knowing it.
Your emergency dental care will involve a visual inspection of your mouth as well as X-rays to see how extensive your damage may be. If you have braces, dental crowns, a fake tooth, or other mouth corrections, your same-day emergency dentist will check to make sure these fixtures are still in place and healthy at the time of your visit.
If your dental concern is not related to an accident but involves a missing wire in your braces, a crown falling off, or other concern, you may have a dental emergency, but only at the discretion of your same-day emergency dentist and their schedule. Your dentist can tell if you have a dental emergency over the phone in many cases.
Are you in extreme pain?
An exposed nerve in a tooth can lead to extreme pain, but you may not always need to see the dentist right away if the pain is manageable. A common remedy for serious dental pain is to use clove oil, or you can use garlic to calm down inflammation and pain. Other remedies you can do at home include using salt water as a rinse or taking over-the-counter medication.
If your pain is manageable until you get to the dentist, then you likely don't have a dental emergency. However, if your dental pain is extreme and won't go away, or if it is getting worse, then schedule an appointment to see your dentist at their next available appointment. Your dental emergency will be treated as soon as possible.