Hospital Emergency Room or Emergency Dentistry?

When you or a loved one have a dental emergency, where is the first place you think of going? Many people rush to the hospital emergency room or urgent care clinic, especially if blood or excruciating pain is involved. What they are not aware of is that these facilities are limited in what they can offer patients for dental emergencies. Most are not equipped with the necessary instruments or staffed with dentists who can adequately attend to the specifics of a dental emergency.

Pain Relief and Treatment

The dental emergency is best handled in the dental office for several reasons. Your emergency dentist has special training in addressing all types of dental problems. Whether it is trauma to the soft tissues of the cheeks, gums and/or tongue, an avulsed (knocked out) tooth or the pain from an infected or broken tooth, the dentist has the expertise to address the discomfort and perform the necessary treatment.

Calling ahead to the dental office is also valuable, in that you can receive information on how to manage the situation until you can get to the office. For example, if a tooth has been knocked out, it should be picked up by the crown (the part you can see above the gumline) and not the root. You can try putting it gently back in place. If this does not work, it should be gently rinsed off and placed in a container where it is covered with milk and brought with you to the dental office.

When you call the office and explain the dental emergency, one of the staff members will be able to tell you what immediate steps you need to take in order to prevent more harm from occurring. Once in the office, the dentist will assess the situation and discuss with you the treatment options. This is much more reassuring than being given a prescription for pain killers and advised to call your dentist as soon as possible.

More Than Comfort Care

Hospital emergency rooms and urgent care facilities are very important and they provide life-saving care every day. However, when it comes to a dental emergency, you will most likely receive an examination, a prescription for an antibiotic if necessary or pain relievers to keep you comfortable until you can get to the dental office. When you choose to contact the Emergency Dentist, you get more than comfort care.

Your problem will be addressed with the expertise of a dental professional trained to handle these types of emergencies. The examination will lead to treatment and elimination of the problem, not just pain relief. Sacramento Emergency Dentist is here for you to help keep your smile healthy. Contact us for the dental emergencies in your family.