Emergency Dentist, A Comprehensive Guide To Immediate Dental Care

Dental emergencies happen all the time—between 1.5 and 2 million people visit the hospital emergency department for non-traumatic dental conditions (NTDCs) every year.

Unfortunately, most hospitals in the US lack the personnel and resources to treat these conditions. Access to immediate dental care is critical, but finding a reliable emergency dentist is easier said than done.

Whether you have chronic dental issues or not, the following tips can help you in a dental crisis. Here’s everything you need to know about dental emergencies, procedures, and treatments, and how to find the best emergency dentist in the area.

What Falls Under “Dental Emergency”?

First, we must define what constitutes a “dental emergency.” According to the American Dental Association (ADA), dental emergencies are all “potentially life-threatening diagnoses requiring immediate treatment to stop bleeding, remedy the infection, and alleviate severe pain.” However, that doesn’t mean that you can seek immediate care only if your life is in danger.

An emergency dentist can provide a range of immediate care services. On one side, that implies urgent medical issues, such as oral bleeding and tooth fractures.

Conversely, these professionals often offer urgent care for non-urgent conditions due to severe pain or discomfort. If you have a reason to believe that your situation could worsen soon, you should seek immediate care.

As per ADA statistics, the most common types of dental emergencies are :

• Toothaches
• Broken or chipped teeth
• Knocked-out teeth (avulsions)
• Abscessed teeth
• Lost fillings or crowns
• Soft tissue injuries

Most dental emergencies are caused by trauma or accidents, but that’s not written in stone. Tooth and filling decays are frequent causes of severe toothaches, as well, and must be treated sooner rather than later to prevent infections. An abscess is a consequence of a bacterial infection that can be extremely painful and lead to severe complications if untreated for a longer time.

How to Find an Emergency Dentist?

In 2023, there were close to 200,000 dental businesses in the US, some better than others. You and your loved ones deserve a capable, reliable, and reputable dental professional in an emergency. We provide experience-based tips for finding an emergency dentist who won’t disappoint you.

1. Research Local Dental Care Providers

Healthcare crises demand an immediate response, leaving you little to no time to ask around and find a tried option. Call your family and friends for recommendations if the situation is urgent. If you need a good doctor right now, ask Google for help. Type “emergency dentist near me” or specify your location and zip code. It’s essential to find a clinic that is nearby and accessible.

2. Conduct a Quick Reputation Checkup

Unless you live in a rural area, you’ll likely have several options. Run quick reputation research to narrow them down. Visit each clinic’s website and ensure it has proper certificates and looks credible. Professional dental providers maintain a transparent and informative online presence, making necessary information about their doctors and services easily accessible.

3. Read Patient Reviews for Full Clarity

Even in emergencies, patient reviews are invaluable. Reading other people’s experiences and testimonials can spare you much pain and trouble. Keep in mind that on-site patient reviews can be fabricated for marketing. Still, you can always find real-life experiences on these doctor review sites: Vitals, HealthGrades, WebMD, RateMDs, ZocDoc, and Google My Business.

4. Learn More About Their Service Offer

Before you schedule a visit, you must ensure the clinic provides the required dental care. If you’re unsure what to look for, the best course of action in this situation is to call in and explain what happened and what you are experiencing. If that isn’t possible for some reason, you can

describe your symptoms to ChatGPT or a health chatbot for an approximate diagnosis.

5. Make a Phone Call/Schedule a Visit

If you’re confident you’ve found the best emergency dentist in your area, it’s time to book an immediate visit. Some providers let you do that online, but you should always call the telephone number if you can. The voice on the other side of the line will hopefully confirm that you’ve made a good choice. Call a different clinic if you end up talking to an unprofessional or uninvolved representative.

While Waiting for the Appointment

Depending on the severity of your situation, you should probably arrange for somebody to drive you to the clinic and wait for you there. Many dental emergency treatments involve using local anesthesia, which could temporarily impair your driving ability.

If you are in a lot of pain, you can take a prescription analgesic to help you cope with discomfort until the doctor calls you in.

Conclusion

Untreated toothache often evolves into a dental emergency, so try not to avoid it. Whether you have a sensitive tooth or a more serious problem, a reputable dental clinic should be able to help you outside of regular business hours. A dentist’s willingness to treat emergency patients shows a commitment that separates outstanding healthcare professionals from the sea of others. That said, Steven Reff, DDS, of Dental Associates of NJ in Bayonne and Jersey City, New Jersey, is aware of how critical it is to have access to high-quality care in an emergency.

In the event of a dental emergency, contact the clinic right away to get assistance. You can schedule follow-up appointments on the website as well. ”