In 2018, more than two million US emergency department visits were oral health-related. However, only 5% of those cases resulted in hospital admission.
That’s because most dental emergencies are treatable in emergency dental offices. Indeed, studies suggest that local dental offices can treat 78.4% of all dental ED visits.
That’s why it’s vital to know how and when an emergency dental clinic can help you. That way, you can save yourself a (costly) trip to the ED if you have an oral-related concern.
We’ll go over what you need to know about clinics providing dental emergency services, so be sure to read on.
Emergency Dental Offices vs. EDs/ERs
According to Axiomdentistry.com, few emergency rooms have the equipment for dental emergencies. As a result, most end up just giving patients something for the pain and sending them off to a dental clinic.
By contrast, emergency dental offices are facilities specifically providing dental emergency care. For example, most of these clinics have in-office dental radiography equipment. Dentists then use them to take on-the-spot or even bedside x-rays of the mouth.
In any case, an emergency dental office should be your go-to for dental emergencies instead of an ED/ER. That way, you can get the help you need immediately without waiting for hours in the hospital lobby.
Besides, hospital EDs charge far more than emergency or urgent dental care offices. That’s all the more reason to skip them and head straight to a dental emergency office.
Problems That Emergency Dental Offices Treat
A dental emergency is any oral problem that causes severe pain or non-stop bleeding. The same goes for accidents that cause the displacement or avulsion of one or more teeth. An emergency dentist can help alleviate such symptoms or even save a tooth.
Severe Toothaches
Untreated oral cavities, which one in four US adults have, can cause severe toothaches. The more advanced the decay, the more intense the pain can be. In such cases, bacteria have likely invaded the tooth’s sensitive pulp nerves.
The good news is that emergency dentists can save even a significantly decayed tooth. One method they may use is root canal treatment, in which they will remove the infected pulp. From there, the root canal undergoes cleaning, disinfection, and finally, sealing.
However, please note that time is of the essence for treating severe tooth decay. That’s because the diseased tooth may already be weak enough to break anytime.
Unfortunately, if your tooth does come apart, you may already need extensive restoration. Worse, you may have to have your tooth extracted.
With that said, it’s best to visit an emergency dental office if you have a severe toothache. That way, the dentist has more opportunities to save your tooth and ease your pain.
Serious Gum Infections
Gingivitis, the mildest form of periodontal disease, affects 90% of the world’s population. Fortunately, it’s reversible, provided it undergoes early treatment.
On the other hand, untreated gingivitis can progress to periodontitis. Also known as gum disease, it’s a more aggressive infection that damages soft oral tissues. If given enough time, it can even destroy the bone supporting the teeth, leading to tooth loss.
If your gums are puffy or swollen, tender to the touch, and easy to bleed, you may have periodontitis. In some cases, the gums may also pull away from the teeth, a condition known as gum recession. Halitosis, pus development, and painful chewing are also indications.
Please head to the nearest emergency dental office if you notice any of those signs. The sooner you do, the sooner the dentist can clear the infection and save your teeth and gums.
If you go today, you may only have to undergo scaling and root planning and take antibiotics. However, if you postpone treatment, you may end up needing surgery, such as flap surgery or gum/bone graft. You want to avoid the latter, as it’s more expensive and invasive.
Displaced or Knocked-Out Tooth
Physical trauma, such as a direct, heavy blow to the mouth, can cause an entire tooth to fly out of its socket. Dentists refer to such incidents as tooth avulsion. It can result from motor vehicle accidents, sporting accidents, falls, and assault.
The good news is that a dentist can still re-implant a knocked-out or avulsed tooth. However, its success is time-dependent. A re-implantation carried out 30 to 60 minutes from the time of the incident is more likely to be successful.
So, if you or a loved one ever knocks out a tooth, do your best to find it and pick it up by the cap (not the roots). Then, rinse it in cold water for 10 seconds before placing it back in its socket or putting it in a glass of milk. Then, immediately go to the closest emergency dental clinic to have it re-implanted.
Continuous Bleeding in the Mouth
Dental trauma can also injure the mouth’s soft tissues, leading to continued bleeding. Such can occur if a direct hit to the oral region causes the teeth to bite deep into the gums. It can also happen if the blow results in the partial displacement of one or more teeth.
Lacerations or penetrating trauma to the palate can also cause non-stop bleeding. While most of these injuries don’t require surgical intervention, some still do. Failure to treat severe palate injuries can lead to dire complications, including thrombosis.
In any case, the first thing to do if your mouth bleeds is to rinse it with water mixed with some salt. You can then apply a moist piece of clean gauze to the injury site and apply pressure to it for 15 to 20 minutes. If the bleeding doesn’t stop, you may have a severe injury that you’d want an emergency dentist to check and treat.
Get Immediate Treatment for Dental Emergencies
As you can see, emergency dental offices are your best bet for oral woes that require immediate care. Moreover, their services often cost less than those given through hospital EDs. So, the next time you find yourself facing a dental emergency, skip the ED and go to an emergency dentist instead.
Would you like to read even more informative health guides like this? If so, have a look at our most recent news and blog posts!
