How to Choose an Emergency Dentist

How to Choose an Emergency Dentist

Apr 04, 2022

Routine dental care problems can easily be managed in a dental office. However, dental emergencies should be taken care of in the emergency department. If you experience a dental issue and you’re not sure about what qualifies as a dental emergency, we got you. This article explains how to determine the kind of dental care you need and locate the right emergency dentist.

What is Dental Emergency?

A dental emergency is a problem that involves the supporting tissues in the mouth and teeth. It is important to be treated by the relevant professional. Dental emergencies don’t always include pain, although that’s a signal that something isn’t right and should be checked.

Pain can come from surrounding tissues or teeth. Depending on the pain type you’re experiencing, our downtown Seattle dentist will determine the cause of the pain. They will then treat the issue accordingly, as each tissue type gives a different message in a dental emergency.

Common Dental Emergencies

There are common emergencies that need you to visit a dental clinic near you. They include:

Toothache

Tooth pain indicates different dental problems, and its cause is supposed to identify with being taken care of. Two common factors that lead to toothache are something stuck between two teeth and pulp infections.

When your tooth pain progressively gets worse, comes on suddenly, or is intense, it is important to visit an emergency dentist. However, you could use a cold compress to help alleviate some discomfort in the meantime.

Loose or Knocked-Out Teeth

Facial impacts that cause your tooth to become loose or knocked out need immediate emergency dental care. If your tooth is open, you should try and keep the tooth in its socket to prevent it from falling out. Then, bite the tooth gently to hold it in place. You should locate your tooth if it’s knocked out. If you find it, handle it by the crown and rinse it.

You can preserve the tooth by doing either of these things: first, you can restore it to the socket and bite down like you would for a loose tooth. Second, you can store it in a glass of water or milk like you would for tooth fragments resulting from a chipped tooth.

Cracks or Chips

Your teeth can crack or chip when you bite hard objects, use your teeth to open packages or have an accident. People who experience grinding and clenching in their teeth are more prone to cracking or chipping teeth. In case of a chipped tooth, you should visit an emergency dentist. Rinse any tooth fragments and store them in a glass of milk and bring them with you to our emergency dentist in Seattle during your dental appointment.

Missing or Loose Dental Restoration

Although temporary and permanent restorations can fall out or become loose, temporary repairs happen a lot. They both require dental emergency care despite the type of restoration. If your permanent tooth has fallen out, you’ll need to take the restoration with you to the dentist. If it’s temporary, you can use a chapstick, Vaseline, or denture adhesive to keep the restoration in place before seeing your dentist.

Soft Tissue Injury

The soft tissue in the mouth includes the tongue, gums, lips, or inside of the cheeks. When you have an injury on one of these structures, call your emergency dentist to get instructions on where to go. These injuries may require an emergency room visit, while others require an emergency dentist.

Tips for Choosing an Emergency Dentist

The information listed below will help you find an emergency dentist easily when you encounter one.

Look in Your City or General Area

You should always visit an emergency dentist near you. Don’t drive for hours to find a dentist.

Inquire About Their Hours

You find out the hours an emergency dentist is open because finding a dentist who accepts patients on an emergency basis can be hard.

Please Find Out the Services They Provide

Always ask a dentist what services they offer. Then, when you find a dentist, who treats patients with emergency issues and handles dental restorations, your life will be made easier.

Call or visit us at Seattle Sound Dental in Downtown to get the right treatment if you encounter any dental care emergency.