Continue reading to learn where you need to go in the event of a dental emergency. While we hope you never have to use this information, it’s better to prepare for the worse and hope for the best.
When to Go to the Hospital for a Dental Emergency
Go to the hospital if you have a life-threatening condition. For example, a large dental abscess can limit your ability to breathe and swallow. Likewise, you would need to visit the ER after breaking your jaw. Serious medical issues like these are best addressed by hospital staff.
Visit the hospital for these emergencies:
- Fractured jaw
- Dislocated jaw
- Deep cuts to the mouth and face that won’t stop bleeding
- A large dental abscess that makes it difficult to breathe or swallow
Don’t visit an ER or urgent care center for a toothache. These facilities don’t hire dentists and can’t treat the underlying causes of toothaches. Most states ban non-dentists from extracting teeth and performing other dental work. The only thing a medical doctor can do is prescribe antibiotics and pain relievers. They’ll then refer you to an emergency dentist.
It actually costs more money to visit the ER first before seeing our emergency dentist. Save yourself the hospital bill by calling us first. Our dentist will be able to diagnose and treat the source of your dental pain, restoring oral health.
When to Call Our Emergency Dentist
Our emergency dentist will be able to diagnose the underlying cause of your pain. For example, you may have an infected tooth if a cavity is deep enough to penetrate the pulp. Likewise, experiencing dental pain upon waking up could mean you grind your teeth at night. The only way to know for certain is to request an appointment with our emergency dentist.
Visit our dentist for these emergencies:
- Severe tooth pain
- Dental abscess
- Swollen gums
- Loose tooth
- Knocked-out tooth
- A broken tooth or large piece of the tooth is missing
- A large chip or crack in the tooth
Don’t put off seeing our emergency dentist. The sooner you seek urgent dental care, the sooner we’ll be able to treat issues before they grow. This could mean the difference between you needing a filling and an emergency root canal. We always try to save as much natural tooth structure as possible. Yet, this can be difficult if you wait until the last minute to seek emergency dental care.
Have a Dental Emergency?
Our office understands that each minute is critical when responding to emergencies. If you’re not sure if you need emergency dental care, call us anyways. We can help walk you through your next steps.
Our emergency dentist in Kalamazoo, MI, is accepting new patients! To schedule an appointment with Kalamazoo Smiles, call (269) 353-3700.
In addition to being uncomfortable, dealing with dental pain affects many aspects of your daily life: Being able to brush your teeth, speak, and eat meals. If the pain is significant, it may also affect your sleep. Thankfully, there are plenty of dentists who can help alleviate symptoms, but they’re not always available at a moment’s notice; especially overnight, during a weekend, or over holidays.
How can you tell when dental pain is something you can “tough out” with an Ibuprofen until you can see a dentist in a day or two, and when are your symptoms a sign of a medical emergency?
When to Schedule a Dentist’s Appointment
Emergency rooms are not usually staffed with dentists. Therefore, if you’ve noticed you may have a cavity or have minor pain that can be managed with over-the-counter painkillers, it’s fine to schedule a dentist’s appointment, even if they can’t see you right away.
You can also wait to see a dentist if you’re experiencing tooth sensitivity when eating or drinking hot or cold items, or if you have a cracked tooth… unless the crack is resulting in bleeding. If the crack is minor and it does not hurt, you can wait until a dental appointment.
Additionally, if you’ve lost a crown or filling, you can use over-the-counter dental cement to put it back in place until your dentist can see you.
When to go to the Emergency Room
Always visit the emergency room if you’ve experienced any of the following:
- Trauma to the face
- Cuts inside your mouth
- Severe swelling
- A broken jaw
- A dislocated jaw
- An abscess that’s affecting your ability to swallow
- An untreated infection
- Pain or swelling that radiates to the neck
- If the condition is affecting your breathing
- If you’re an adult and you have a loose tooth or teeth
- Headache
- High fever
- Severe pain
Do not try to wait and see if the injury gets better on its own, as left untreated, all of the conditions listed above could lead to life-threatening complications, such as necrosis of the pulp, cellulitis, or septic shock.
24-Hour Emergency Room Services in Colorado Springs and Texas
If you or a loved one have a medical emergency, we can provide the care you need. If you have questions or need immediate treatment, your nearest Complete Care location is ready to help, no matter the time of day or night. We offer a variety of services to help you and your family in your time of need. No appointments are necessary.
Find the Complete Care location nearest you.