Dental emergencies can strike at any time, and suddenly having to deal with one can certainly be a stressful situation. In addition to any physical discomfort you may be feeling, your brain might be racing to find a way to address the issue. Thankfully, dentists are trained to deal with emergencies and help patients achieve their best possible outcomes. Here’s a brief guide to emergency dental appointments so you can feel a little more comfortable by knowing what to expect.
What Counts as a Dental Emergency?
While there are many possible dental health problems that can suddenly emerge, they don’t all count as dental emergencies. As uncomfortable and inconvenient as minor chips, a broken dental bridge, or a bracket of your braces separating from your tooth can be, they do not require immediate dental attention. Dental emergencies are so painful that they interfere with your daily life or require immediate intervention to save a tooth or prevent further damage. A few examples include:
- Severe toothache
- Fractured teeth
- Dislodged teeth
- Loss of a dental crown
What Should I Do When I Have a Dental Emergency?
If your dental emergency involves the loss of some natural or artificial tooth structure, recover the missing crown, chip, or tooth if you can. If it is a natural tooth or a part of one, transport it in a cup of milk or a container with some saliva. Take care to never touch the root of a dislodged tooth.
Afterward or otherwise, you should call your emergency dentist to describe the problem and let them know you are coming. The office will pencil you in for the next available emergency appointment as well as some instructions to help you stay comfortable and healthy until then. After this, start heading for your dentist’s office.
What Happens at an Emergency Dentist’s Appointment?
When you come in for your Emergency Dentist’s Appointment, you will receive a limited exam that focuses on the afflicted area of the mouth and may include X-rays. In some cases, your dentist will be able to treat the issue that day. Other cases may require you to be scheduled for a more involved procedure in the coming days, but you will be supplied with pain relievers and antibiotics to keep any pain or infection under control until then.
While dental emergencies are never fun, they can be managed. Knowing how to recognize a dental emergency and what to do when one happens can save you a lot of pain and distress.
About the Practice
Riviera Family Dentistry of Mesquite offers high-quality dental care to the community of Mesquite, TX. Led by Drs. Zach Kingsberg, Sara Fallahi, Le-Anne Ho, Matthew Arnold, and Jay Patel, the staff delivers exceptional customer service in a clean and friendly environment. Areas of expertise include general, pediatric, cosmetic, restorative, and emergency dentistry. If you are having a dental emergency, dial (214) 974-8987. Otherwise, contact the office online to schedule an appointment.