How serious of an issue is a dental cavity? What about a knocked-out tooth? Should you seek urgent dental care for these types of issues or wait to make an appointment during regular business hours? Basically, what exactly counts as a dental emergency, and how should you handle one?
You’re in luck – this post will answer all your questions so you’ll know what to do in case of a dental emergency!
Non-Urgent Vs. Urgent Oral Situations
It’s true that some oral problems can wait a day or two. Tooth sensitivity, broken or lost restorations, and jaw pain should be addressed in a timely fashion to avoid further complications, but you may not need a same-day appointment. Urgent situations that do require ASAP appointment times usually involve severe discomfort or other abnormalities, such as extreme toothaches or signs of infection.
Examples of Dental Emergencies
It can be difficult to know when you have a dental emergency on your hands, so here are some examples of situations that warrant a prompt phone call to your dentist:
- Toothaches
- Chipped or broken teeth
- Cracked or lost restorations
- Loose or wiggly teeth
- Gum, lip, tongue, or other oral injury
- Infection
If you’re still not sure whether you’ll need a same-day appointment, that’s okay! Once you describe your symptoms to your dental team over the phone, they’ll be able to help you determine the best time to come in.
Why It’s Important to Seek Treatment Early
An important note to consider is that your teeth can’t repair themselves or fight off infections like other parts of your body. Oral issues will only get worse with time, so it’s better to seek out treatment as soon as you notice something is wrong. Otherwise, you could very well need more complex and costly solutions in order to fix your problem.
Knowing when to contact your dentist about the health of your smile can be tricky. A good rule of thumb is to simply call their office and explain your symptoms in as much detail as possible. If your dentist determines your situation isn’t urgent, then you have the benefit of peace of mind. If they want to see you on a same-day basis, then you’ll be glad you called sooner than later!
About the Author
Dr. Nicholas Baldelli earned his dental degree from the Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine. He has advanced training in several emergency dental treatments, such as root canals and oral surgery. If you’re in need of urgent dental care, Dr. Baldelli will do his best to see you as soon as possible and make sure you’re taken care of! To contact his office and request a same-day emergency appointment, call 401-847-7662.