You may brush your teeth twice a day, floss it carefully, and rinse your mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash, but you may still need an emergency and walk-in dental treatment. That’s because dental emergencies can occur anytime. You can do your best to avoid dental emergencies, but you may still need emergency dental work because of undiagnosed latent conditions or dental injuries or accidents. Most people don’t understand how to handle dental emergencies, how to contact an emergency dentist, or when they should consult an emergency dentist open near me.
When you suffer from a dental emergency, you must contact emergency dental offices near me. You may feel like panicking, but you should remain calm and explain the situation to the emergency dentist. The emergency dentist will determine if the situation is truly an emergency, and how you should handle it. The emergency dentist will tell you how to handle the situation and then ask you to come over to the emergency dental clinic for a walk-in appointment or schedule an appointment later if it’s not a dental emergency. You must always have a dental emergency kit with all the essentials necessary for emergency dental care, such as antiseptic gauze, cotton swabs, dental cement, painkillers, and an airtight container.
Most people don’t know when they should or shouldn’t go to an emergency room for dental treatments. This article aims to provide all the information you need to deal with dental emergencies and contact an emergency dentist open near me.
When should you seek an emergency dentist?
When you have cracked teeth…
You may have cracked teeth for several reasons, and all of them don’t automatically constitute dental emergencies. You may have a cracked tooth because of biting into something hard, like nuts, ice, or hard candies. Or perhaps you tried opening a bottle cap with your teeth. Or perhaps you suffer from teeth grinding, a condition that makes you grind your teeth. All of these situations can potentially lead to cracked teeth.
The likelihood of suffering from cracked teeth increases as you grow older. People older than 50 are more likely to suffer from cracked teeth because of weakened enamel. Sometimes, you may have a hairline crack that doesn’t require immediate attention. But other times, the crack may be deep or extend under the gum line, necessitating immediate emergency dental care. If that’s the case, place an ice pack on your face to control the swelling, and have someone drive you to the emergency dentist office.
When you have dental trauma…
Dental trauma refers to accidents and injuries in the dental regions, often leading to cracked teeth or tooth loss. You may crack, break, or lose your teeth during contact sports, from falling down, getting punched, or being in a car accident. If your tooth is knocked out, you must find the tooth and save it immediately. Knocked-out teeth can be protected and reattached if you contact an emergency dentist within an hour.
You should hold the tooth by the crown, rinse it clean, and gently wide it dry — without scrubbing the root. You can either hold the tooth against the insides of your cheek or place it in an airtight container with some saltwater, milk, or your saliva. The goal is to keep the tooth’s root moisturized and healthy, while you have someone drive you to the emergency dentist office.
When you have severe toothache…
Mild toothaches don’t constitute dental emergencies because they can be caused by non-emergency situations, like food stuck between your teeth. If you have a mild toothache, you can try to handle it by biting down on a tea bag or flossing your teeth. However, persistent and severe toothaches may denote severe underlying dental problems, such as a bacterial infection, gingivitis, or dental abscess.
You should contact an emergency dentist if you have a severe and persistent toothache for over 24 hours. And you should contact the emergency dentist immediately if you’re also suffering from a fever, bleeding gums, or a dental abscess, as identified by pus-filled cysts in your roots. If you notice these signs and symptoms, you need emergency dental services immediately.
What is the most common emergency in the dental office?
The following are the most common dental emergencies necessitating a trip to an emergency dentist near me open today:
- Severe dental injuries.
- Knocked-out teeth.
- Severe toothaches.
- Dental infections and abscess.
- Mouth sores.
- Excessive dental sensitivity.
- Abscessed gums.
- Broken or fragmented teeth.
- Severe bleeding.
- Swelling.
Is a filling falling out an emergency?
You need emergency dental care to handle situations that cause excessive pain, severe bleeding, or situations that may worsen considerably soon. As such, a fallen filling doesn’t necessitate emergency dental care because you can easily wait for a few days before replacing it. However, you should get the filling replaced soon to avoid bacterial infections.
How do I get an emergency dentist appointment?
If you have any of the aforementioned dental problems, you must immediately find an emergency dentist near your location. You can Google “emergency dental offices near me” to get a list of some of the most reputable emergency dentists in your area, whether it’s Houston or any other.
You should find an emergency dentist with a strong reputation and someone who accepts walk-in dental appointments during emergencies. Furthermore, you should find an emergency dentist who accepts most insurance plans since dental treatments can be costly.
Sapphire Smiles is one of the most reputable and state-of-the-art dental offices in Houston, TX. Our dental clinic is located on 2522 Yale St. #210, Houston, TX 77008. If you need emergency dental care, please contact our emergency dentist or call us at (832) 409-0400.
