Often, the best response to a sudden health scare is to visit an emergency room. That approach certainly works for a broken bone, a heart attack, organ failure, and the like. But should you visit an ER for a dental emergency, rather than a dental practice? Your Califon dentist will gladly settle this question, so please don’t worry. Just keep reading to learn about dental emergencies, why ERs don’t handle them well, and why you should see a dental provider instead.
Note the Nature of Dental Emergencies
To fully address the ER question, you need to know what dental emergencies are. You should thus review the basics about these urgent oral problems first.
Dental emergencies are sudden and severe oral issues that demand quick care. As such, they often occur due to injuries, bad oral habits, and poor oral hygiene. Such problems also do long-term harm to one’s oral health unless treated (relatively) soon.
Given the facts above, common dental emergencies include:
- Cracked, Broken, or Knocked-Out Teeth
- Damaged Restorations (i.e., crowns, fillings, etc.)
- Severe Toothaches
- Painful Facial Swelling
- Bleeding or Aching Gums
- Soft Tissue Injuries
ERs Don’t Offer Urgent Oral Care
An ER can handle almost any physical health issue, but you shouldn’t go to one for a dental emergency. This facility just isn’t equipped to handle severe smile dilemmas.
You see, your average ER can’t treat the causes of dental emergencies. It lacks staff with the required skills or certifications, as well as oral health expertise. The most an emergency room could do is offer some antibiotics or painkillers, which would briefly relieve your mouth pain. No doctor or nurse at the venue would fix your smile’s underlying condition(s).
What makes things worse is that an ER charges more than a dental visit. If you visit one for help, you’d ultimately spend a lot for merely temporary aid.
Why to See an Emergency Dentist
You should always see your local dentist for dental emergencies. Unlike an ER, they’ll have the resources, skills, and tools to address your needs.
Dentists are the oral health experts of the medical community. Given their years of study and training, they know all about dental emergencies – what causes them, how to treat them, etc. A good dentist can diagnose and “fix” your urgent oral problem without costing you too much.
Since you shouldn’t visit an ER for a dental emergency, don’t hesitate. See your dental provider as soon as possible for a solution!
About the Practice
Califon Dental Arts is based in Califon, NJ. Led by Dr. Russell O’Connell, our practice aims to be your one-stop shop for all the dentistry you need. We thus offer a comprehensive range of services, ranging from simple dental checkups and cleanings to same-day (and after-hours) help for dental emergencies. Our team can fix nearly any oral issue, so rest assured – we have your back! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (908)-975-1269.