When To Call An Emergency Dentist
An emergency dentist plays an incredibly important role, if you’ve ever needed one, you’ll understand the importance! Tooth pain can not only be painful but extremely worrying so knowing a reliable and professional emergency dentist can give you complete peace of mind that should something bad happen, it can be treated quickly and effectively.
This article will look at some of the different times when you may need an emergency dentist, along with some of the times that a normal dentist will do!
Emergency dentist situations
The most common reason that people call an emergency dentist is when a tooth gets chipped, broken or falls out. This can be a very worrying time for the patient and it is very important that the dentist is called as soon as possible. Some people think that going to A&E is the best solution in this situation but in many cases this is not a good use of the nurses’ time and a dentist will be able to give the best treatment. Of course an emergency dentist is paid whereas A&E is free in the UK. However, there can be a long wait at A&E and in cases that involve a tooth falling out, it is vital that it is reattached within 1 hour.
Where a tooth is only chipped or broken, the dentist will first assess whether there is a medical problem or whether the damage is only aesthetic. In cases where it is purely aesthetic, there are a number of options such as veneers, crowns or simply filling in the gap.
The next most common reason why people need to visit an emergency dentist is in cases where there is extreme pain. Pains such as wisdom teeth or numb aches can usually wait until a normal appointment can be booked in but where there is an abscess that needs treatment asap only an emergency dentist will do. Most emergency surgeries are available 24 hours a day so you should be able to get seen to immediately.
When not to call an emergency dentist
Remember that dentists’ time can be expensive which is well worth it when it really is an emergency but where you have simply forgotten to book a normal appointment and then decide you want to be seen to straight away, this is not a good use of anyone’s time or money. It is recommended that everyone sees a dentist at least twice a year to ensure good dental hygiene and health – book your routine appointments as normal.
Finally, if you have a real accident where there is a considerable amount of pain or damage caused, it may be best to go to the hospital for treatment. In real emergencies where someone’s life is in danger or there is loss of blood for example, always call 999.