When you think of a dental emergency, you probably think of a traumatic event that winds up causing broken teeth or other really severe damage. But actually, the term “dental emergency” can include a lot more than traumatic injuries. In fact, a dental emergency can be any type of situation that requires prompt or immediate attention and care.
At Dr. Darj Dental, we offer complete urgent care services aimed at not only providing relief for painful symptoms, but also “fixing” underlying damage, so you can enjoy better oral health in the future.
Having a tooth knocked out constitutes as an obvious emergency. But there are plenty of other dental emergencies that probably aren’t so obvious. Some of the most common examples include:
That list certainly isn’t exhaustive, but it gives you a good idea of some of the oral health issues that warrant an immediate trip to our office.
Tooth pain is perhaps the most common type of dental emergency. But does that mean every toothache is a dental emergency? Well, yes and no. If you’re experiencing tooth pain, it’s your body’s way of telling you something is not right. You should never ignore any type of tooth pain; even mild pain is a reason to call the office. However, milder cases generally mean you can wait until the next business day to seek care. Always call the office first and we will help you determine if the pain you’re experiencing needs urgent or emergency care, or if you can wait until the next appointment to be seen. If the latter, we can provide you with the help you need to temporarily relieve painful symptoms until the tooth can be evaluated and your pain can be professionally treated. We may suggest rinsing with warm water or saltwater to help treat pain and reduce inflammation for many cases. Using a cold compress or wrapped ice pack on your cheek may also help.
Dr. Darj is a skilled and experienced provider of urgent care treatment for patients of all ages. The treatment you need will, of course, be entirely dependent on the type of emergency you’re having. Many emergency problems, such as broken or damaged restorations, can be treated by replacing the restoration with a new one or at least a temporary restoration until a new one can be made at a dental lab. At our practice, we set aside some time in the daily schedule to accommodate urgent care appointments and other same-day scheduling needs.
Other emergencies, such as a knocked-out tooth, require immediate attention to increase the chances of replanting the tooth so it can be saved. In these instances, you should come in immediately for treatment, or, if the office is closed, head to the nearest emergency room.
Obviously, you don’t want to have to drop everything in your schedule to come in for an evaluation if you don’t need to. And there are some situations when it’s OK to wait for the next business day before being seen and treated. But because dental emergencies can be difficult to spot and diagnose all on your own, the best way to know if you need to be seen immediately is to call our office. During your phone call, we’ll talk to you about your symptoms and determine the best course of treatment to prevent additional pain or damage. To learn more about the urgent and emergency care services we offer at Dr. Darj Dental or to schedule a checkup to make sure your teeth are in good health, book an appointment online today.
