Skip the ER and Visit an Emergency Dentist

As an emergency dentist, we know that the worst kind of discomfort you may ever have can come from a simple toothache. We also know, from experience, that toothaches have a nasty habit of not conforming to regular business hours. Unfortunately, for many Americans, they never consider the fact that there is a higher than likely chance they will need an emergency dentist at some point in their life. If not for themselves, then for a family member. Because of this lack of thought very few people know if their dentist can provide urgent care on off hours, or have an alternative emergency dentist on their contact list. One might argue that this is carelessness, but the truth is that very few people ever give much thought to the idea that they could someday need urgent medical attention. With emergency rooms close by, and many people having good oral health care and hygiene habits, the idea of rushing to a dentist with a tooth problem at two in the morning seems rather farfetched. In fact, more than 40% of people pay little attention to their teeth, other than to brush them, even ignoring the need to visit the dentist on a regular basis.

As an emergency dentist, we are trained as a dentist first and foremost. This means that when you have the need for urgent treatment in the dental arena there is no one who can perform the services that we can. Most dentists do not provide urgent care, so many patients turn to the next best thing, ER.  If you have a medical emergency, going to the ER is hardwired into our thought process and many people are still doing that when it comes to their teeth. In a study conducted by the Federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, which covered 24 states and a period of three years, the data showed that there was a 16% increase in the number of people who were visiting emergency rooms for dental care over those three years. It is important to know that while the skilled physicians at the emergency room will do their best to take care of you, they are not trained to be an emergency dentist. As a result, they will treat your symptoms, like giving you pain medication if you are in pain, and send you home with a patch in place. This is only a temporary solution until you can see an actual dentist. The difference with an emergency dentist is that not only can we cure the symptoms but we can also diagnose the root cause of the symptoms and get you on the road to healing.

The perfect example of why you should see an emergency dentist for dental issues is a toothache. While a toothache can be uncomfortable, it is often symptomatic of a deeper problem like an infection or the onset of gum disease. Either of these need to be treated quickly by a seasoned dentist.  In our emergency dentist office, we provide the care you need quickly so that you don’t need to visit the ER and your health problems can be corrected right away.