When an individual experiences a dental emergency, such as severe tooth pain or bleeding, a knocked-out tooth, or gum lacerations, they should call an emergency dentist. These dentists have specialized training and extensive experience in dealing with these types of emergencies.

They can also help patients who have sustained soft tissue injuries to the lips, tongue, and cheeks. They can help reduce nerve pain and bleeds as well as provide medication to prevent infections.

Identifying the Problem

An emergency dentist is a dental professional who has experience treating patients with urgent oral problems. These problems include severe tooth pain, knocked out or broken teeth, bleeding gums, and infections. Emergency dentists are available outside of normal business hours and can respond to your call quickly.

Identifying the problem is the first step in getting the right care. A severe, throbbing or continuous toothache usually indicates that you have a serious underlying condition, such as an infection or abscess. Over-the-counter pain relievers can often be used to ease the pain until you can see your dentist.

A loose or missing filling, crown, or bridge also constitutes a dental emergency because it exposes your nerve and can cause significant discomfort. An emergency dentist can provide you with a temporary solution until you can make an appointment to get the missing or damaged restoration replaced.

Taking X-Rays

Unlike regular dental visits which focus on preventative procedures, emergency dentists provide treatment for unexpected oral health issues. These problems may include severe tooth pain, swollen gums or jaw discomfort. During a visit, an emergency dentist will use X-rays to diagnose the problem and determine how best to proceed.

For example, if an infection is left untreated, it could spread to other parts of the body and cause life-threatening conditions such as sepsis. An emergency dentist will drain a tooth abscess to reduce the risk of complications.

They will also take other X-rays to check for skull fractures, spinal curvatures and other conditions. They will also re-insert a knocked out tooth, repair a cracked or chipped tooth and restore lost fillings or crowns. Often, they will also prescribe antibiotics to treat the underlying condition. They can also perform root canals to treat infected teeth. This involves drilling the tooth and cleaning out the inner chamber where the blood vessels and nerves are housed. The dentist will then insert medication to kill any bacteria left behind and seal the tooth with gutta-percha.

Diagnosing the Problem

Most patients who go to an emergency dentist come in with pain, and that’s a great indication of a serious dental issue. It may be that a tooth is cracked or fractured, or the tooth has become infected. The dentist will often perform a thorough examination to determine what the problem is, especially after looking at an x-ray.

It is possible that the x-rays will reveal an underlying dental condition that needs urgent care, like gum abscesses or advanced tooth decay. The dentist can provide treatment to address these issues before they worsen.

There are a few instances when you shouldn’t visit an emergency dentist and should instead head to the ER, such as if you are experiencing chest pain, difficulty breathing, or severe bleeding. Otherwise, an emergency dentist will be able to help you quickly. This can include emergency treatments for a knocked-out tooth, swollen gums, and broken restorations. They are also equipped to handle other oral emergencies like a severe toothache, a loose or dislodged crown or bridge, and uncontrolled bleeding.

Treating the Problem

Depending on the severity of the problem, treatment can range from medication to surgical procedures. The emergency dentist will make sure the patient is comfortable throughout the process and provide aftercare instructions for the best results.

It’s important to note that mild tooth pain doesn’t usually qualify as a dental emergency. Severe throbbing or persistent pain, however, should always be addressed in an emergency dentist’s office to ensure that irreversible damage doesn’t occur to the teeth, jaw, or gums.

In addition to alleviating pain, emergency dentists also treat severe dental trauma and other conditions that require immediate care, such as abscesses (a buildup of pus within a tooth’s root) that can cause infection in the rest of the body. They can also repair chipped or broken teeth to restore their appearance and function. They may even replace teeth in the event that a tooth is knocked out. They also offer cosmetic services such as teeth whitening and veneers to enhance the look of the smile.