As an Emergency Dentist, We Should Be on Your Emergency Contact List

Is your emergency dentist listed as part of your emergency contact lists? If you answered “no”, you are like the vast majority of people in the country. Most people do not think they will ever need emergency dental care. The truth is that most people know that emergency dentists exist and that we provide a vital service. This, however, is where the disconnect happens as most people never associate the emergency medical assistance we provide with themselves. This is typical because most people think that a great oral health and hygiene routine is enough to keep them safe from having such a need.

While it is true that healthy habits and better hygiene can offset a potential trip to the dentist, it is also true that accidents happen. Additionally, gum diseases and toothaches can strike at any time, even though you've been careful to take care of your teeth. Our strongest advice on emergency dental protocol is this; If you believe you have a dental emergency, do not hesitate or wait, contact an emergency dentist immediately. Failure to do so can result in further damage to your mouth, gums, and teeth.

Trained in dental care, emergency dentists have a unique place in the world. Many people think that if they walk into the emergency room with a toothache they will get to see someone who is trained in the dental sciences. This is very rarely, true. It is very important when you have a dental situation that you visit an emergency dentist, not just go to the ER. In a study conducted by the Federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, from 2006 to 2009 the number of people that came into an emergency room for a dental problem increased by over 16%. This means that more people were seeking medical attention for their dental problem from ER doctors. While an ER doctor is highly trained, they are not trained in dealing with dental problems, and, as a result, more than 20% of the people eventually had to come back with the same problem. On the other hand, an emergency dentist will treat the root cause of the problem, not just the symptoms like the pain.

It is a fact of life that unfortunate and unexpected situations do occur. For example, the most common reason people seek medical attention, involving their mouth, is a toothache. A toothache can be a symptom of any number of problems. We can often prevent them from occurring with regularly scheduled teeth cleanings and dental exams.  Still, they do happen and not always during business hours.  This is one of the reasons that we offer emergency care.  Other reasons, we have found, that bring people to our emergency dentist office are chipped and cracked teeth, having a tooth completely knocked out, or losing a filling while eating something hard.  These are all issues that we can correct quickly and with procedures not available at your local ER.