For dental emergencies, people can go to an emergency dentist or an emergency room. However, several things should be considered before deciding where to seek medical help. Just like any other medical emergency, dental emergencies also require different levels of care. This depends on their severity. The ideal place to go for treatment when you have a dental emergency should be based on the type of emergency you have.

Emergency dentist or emergency room

Many different types of dental injuries are considered dental emergencies. Tooth injuries such as a cracked or knocked-out tooth are common dental emergencies. Injuries to the inside of the mouth like tears, puncture wounds and lacerations to the tongue, cheeks or lips or a tooth that is forced out of position and loosened are also other problems that need urgent care. Here are some factors that may help a person determine whether to visit a hospital or an emergency dentist for a dental emergency.

Hospital

People should go to the hospital for dental emergencies or traumas that involve the mouth and face and that need medical attention. These include dental problems like jaw dislocations, jaw fractures, serious lacerations or cuts to the mouth and face or an infection or abscess that is very swollen or affecting breathing or swallowing. It is immensely important for people to visit an emergency room for serious problems and life-threatening conditions. A person should also go to the nearest emergency room if getting in touch with an emergency dentist is not possible.

Emergency dentist

There are several dental emergencies that are not life-threatening but may still require immediate care. A person should visit the dentist if they break or crack a tooth or if a tooth gets knocked out, unless it is causing a lot of bleeding or the problem happened due to a violent injury. A dentist can handle these problems and ensure that a patient receives the appropriate treatment. A person who needs emergency dental care should first call the office of the regular dentist. Dentists often leave slots in their schedules open for emergency patients, so a patient may be able to get an appointment quickly.

Contact your dentist

For a dental emergency, it is always recommended to visit an emergency dentist or an emergency room. This decision should be based on the type of emergency. Dental emergencies do not always occur when the office of your dentist is open. If the dental emergency happens during non-business hours, on a holiday or a weekend and it is not considered life-threatening, you should try calling your dentist before opting for alternative care options.

Many dentists often provide patients with after-hours emergency care. Some of them also provide an on-call substitute recommendation. If a dentist is not able to see you after-hours but you need treatment from a health care practitioner, you should go to the nearest emergency room. The staff there will let you know if the injury can wait for your regular dentist. Depending on your situation, they can also provide pain medication to relieve symptoms in the meantime.

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