Dental emergencies are worrying situations to find yourself in. When it comes to handling them, the pain you’re experiencing might leave you confused about whether you should rush to your local emergency room or to your dentist. While both might seem like good answers, one can give you the treatment you need while the other can’t. Here’s what you should know.
Should I Go to the Dentist or ER for My Dental Emergency?
In short, it’s always best to visit your dentist for your dental emergencies. These professionals have years of training that allow them to pinpoint the problem and offer effective solutions. Better yet, the advanced instruments they have access to are specifically designed for the mouth, letting you feel confident knowing you’re in good hands.
While ERs can be a great place in their own right, they don’t typically have dentists on staff. The doctors there can prescribe antibiotics and painkillers for your discomfort, but they can’t perform any dental care. That means they might give you medication and then tell you to follow up with your oral healthcare provider.
When Should I Visit an ER for My Dental Emergency?
Although your dentist can handle dental emergencies, there are cases when you should head to your local ER. They can give you relief from discomfort, but also help you during these situations:
- Uncontrolled, severe bleeding that lasted for over 10 minutes despite applying pressure.
- A tooth abscess that causes trouble breathing, swallowing, swelling, and a high fever.
- Physical injury to your jawbone that broke or fractured it.
How Does My Dentist Handle Dental Emergencies?
When it’s time for your dental visit, your dentist will get to work right away. They will first relieve your pain and perform an oral examination to find the underlying problem. A treatment plan will be made and implemented to solve the issue at hand. This could be a filling, root canal, crown, or an extraction in severe cases. It depends on what would be best for you.
In the end, an ER can help with your discomfort from a dental emergency, but they might not give you the lasting solution you need. By heading to your oral healthcare professional, you can get back to a worry-free grin.
About the Practice
Experiencing a dental emergency? Our team at Tylan Creek Family Dentistry is dedicated to helping patients in the local communities with these urgent scenarios by offering same-day visits. Led by compassionate dentists, we pinpoint the cause and provide effective treatment. That way, you get back to a strong smile. If you have any questions, schedule an appointment or call our Simpsonville office at 864-962-6671.