Oral health crises have a horrible tendency to strike at the worst possible times, and the best way to resolve them is to call your dentist to schedule an emergency appointment. However, many people who are anxious about dentistry may hesitate to book an urgent visit to their provider’s office if they don’t know what to expect. Here’s a brief guide to what counts as a dental emergency and what you can expect when you see your dentist.
What Counts as a Dental Emergency?
A dental emergency is an oral health problem that meets one or both of the following criteria: Causing severe pain, and requiring immediate attention to prevent further damage or serious complications. A few examples include:
- Severe toothache
- A dislodged tooth
- A tooth cracked in a way that exposes the soft tissue inside it to the air and the oral environment
- Looseness in an adult tooth
- Broken dentures or bridges
- A stubborn object stuck between the teeth that cannot be removed by brushing and flossing
What Happens During an Emergency Dental Appointment?
The first step to receiving emergency dental care is calling your dentist’s office to explain the situation and let them know you’re on your way. If you have lost a tooth or have broken part of it off, find and secure the tooth or the chipped fragment and store it in a container with saliva or milk so you can bring it to the practice. You can also use an ADA-approved tooth preservation kit to keep a dislodged tooth in savable condition for up to twenty-four hours if you have one available. You can store a dislodged dental restoration in a clean container.
When you arrive at your dentist’s office, your provider will begin by examining your mouth to determine the severity of the problem. In some cases, they may be able to treat the issue in the same appointment. However, it may be necessary to schedule you for a restorative treatment at a later date. In this case, you will receive medication to control pain and infection as well as instructions for remaining comfortable until your next appointment.
Delaying emergency dental care can lead to permanent damage and make more costly restorative treatments necessary. Promptly seeing your dentist to have your oral health crisis addressed is the best way to keep your smile healthy, strong, and beautiful for life.
About the Author
Dr. Robert J. Sanker earned his dental degree at Georgetown University School of Dentistry and became a specialist in prosthodontics in 1985. He is proud to be a member of the American Dental Association, the American College of Prosthodontics, and the Maryland State Dental Association. His office in Rockville provides general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. If you are experiencing a dental emergency, please dial (301) 468-5566. For non-urgent inquiries, please contact his staff online.