When you have sudden and urgent health trouble, you’d typically go to the nearest emergency room. This move is the best option for many ailments, ranging from fractured bones to organ failures. But does all that mean you should visit an ER for a dental emergency? If you want to know for sure, your Sherman dentists will gladly help. Just keep reading to learn why ERs aren’t ideal for dental emergencies, and how an emergency dentist would be better for you.
Consider What Dental Emergencies Are
To fully address the main question, you’ll need to know what dental emergencies are first. The answer won’t make sense to you otherwise.
Dental emergencies are oral health issues that demand urgent attention. As such, most of them are caused by severe injuries, bad oral habits, and poor dental hygiene. They’ll severely impact a patient’s oral health if they don’t get proper (and prompt) treatment.
The most common dental emergencies include:
- Cracked, Broken, or Knocked-Out Teeth
- Painful Facial Swelling
- Bleeding or Aching Gums
- Severe Toothaches
- Soft Tissue Injuries
- Damaged Restorations (i.e., crowns, fillings, etc.)
An ER Can’t Provide Oral Care
As effective as they are for many health problems, don’t visit an ER when you have a dental emergency. Its staff won’t be able to treat your smile.
ERs just aren’t equipped or trained to handle dental emergencies. The people working at them don’t have the required skills or certifications; they aren’t oral health experts. Given these realities, the most an ER could do for your oral trouble is provide antibiotics or painkillers for short-term relief. The attending doctors, nurses, and other personnel won’t address your grin’s underlying condition.
What’s worse is that an ER will charge you more than a standard dental visit. In other words, it’ll amount to an expensive-but-temporary aid.
Better to See an Emergency Dentist
For any and all dental emergencies, see your local dentist. They have the knowledge, training, and equipment to perform urgent oral care.
In contrast to ERs, dentists know all the ins and outs of oral health. They’ll thus have a thorough grasp of your dental emergency’s cause and the best ways to solve it. The cherry on top is that they’ll provide the required help without charging you an exorbitant amount of money.
Rather than visit an ER for a dental emergency, get to the nearest dental practice ASAP. The latter will give your grin the treatment it needs!
About the Practice
Grant E. & Mark A Smith, DDS, is based in Sherman, TX. Led by Drs. Mark and Grant Smith, our practice makes every effort to provide the best dental care possible. We thus offer truly comprehensive dentistry, with treatments ranging from the preventive and cosmetic to the restorative and urgent. Whatever problem your grin is facing, rest assured – we’ll take care of it! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (903)-893-8030.
