Dental emergencies have a nasty way of coming out of nowhere. While it’s unlikely that you can anticipate a tooth-related crisis, knowing what to do and what to expect when one happens can help you keep a level head and reach the best possible outcome. Here’s a brief guide to what counts as a dental emergency and what you can expect during an emergency dental visit.
What Counts as a Dental Emergency?
An emergency dentist can treat a variety of oral health conditions. A few examples include:
- Toothache: A severe, throbbing toothache can be the result of advanced tooth decay that requires a root canal.
- Loose teeth: It’s important to have a loose adult tooth taken care of by a dentist to prevent its loss.
- Cracked teeth: if your tooth has been severely cracked, it counts as a dental emergency.
- Dislodged teeth: If you knock out a tooth, take care to handle it only by the crown as touching it by the root can damage it. Clean it only by swishing it in a bowl of lukewarm water and transport it in its socket, in your cheek or lip, or in a small vessel with milk or saliva. The sooner your dentist can get to it, the more likely it is that it can be reimplanted.
What Happens During an Emergency Dental Visit?
If you are experiencing a dental emergency, locate any broken pieces of your teeth if possible and call your emergency dentist’s office to let them know you are coming. You will be penciled in for an upcoming appointment and receive instructions on how to handle the situation until then. If your crisis requires immediate treatment, you may be scheduled for an appointment that same day. If the problem can wait for a while, you may be scheduled within the coming days.
Once you arrive for your appointment, you will probably receive an emergency dental exam. Your dentist will inspect the afflicted area to determine the best course of treatment. They will also take care to review your medical history and current medications, and X-rays may be taken. In some cases, you may receive prescriptions for pain medication and antibiotics and be scheduled for an appointment at a later date.
In other cases, you may receive treatment that day and you may receive local anesthetics or dental sedation to help you sit more calmly through the procedure. While dental emergencies may be unpleasant, they can be mitigated if they receive the appropriate treatment in time.
About the Practice
Frandsen Dental of Orem provides friendly and effective dental services to the community of Orem, UT. Led by Drs. Colton Rich and Dan Dansie, the staff delivers holistic and personalized oral health care that addresses patients’ needs and helps them to smile beautifully. Areas of expertise include general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. If you are experiencing a dental emergency, dial (801) 224-7900. For more information, contact the office online.