Can the Emergency Room Treat a Dental Emergency?

Dental emergencies have a terrible tendency to strike at the most inconvenient times without any warning, and they vary considerably in severity. While your emergency dentist is usually the best provider to handle your oral health crisis, there are some cases where you should head to the emergency room instead. Here’s a brief guide to where you should go for urgent oral care.

When Should I See My Emergency Dentist?

Your emergency dentist is trained and equipped to address a wide range of oral health crises such as:

• Severe toothache: Throbbing tooth pain is often a sign of severe decay that requires immediate attention.
• A dislodged tooth: If you can promptly bring your knocked-out tooth to your dentist, they may be able to successfully reimplant it in your jaw. Otherwise, they can recommend an appropriate replacement.
• Severe cracks or chips: Damage that exposes the interior structures of the tooth can lead to destructive infections.
• A loose permanent tooth: Loose teeth are at grave risk of being lost. Your dentist may be able to fix your tooth back in its place so it can reintegrate with your jaw and function normally again.
• Chronic jaw pain or dental sensitivity: Your dentist may be able to treat debilitating oral pain that lasts several days.
• Broken denture: Wearing a broken denture can lead to oral injuries. If your appliance breaks, cease wearing it and contact your emergency dentist.
• Small cuts in the mouth: Your dentist may be able to stitch small oral wounds shut and help you keep them clean.

When Should I Head to the Emergency Room?

Your local emergency room can treat a range of severe oral injuries such as:

• A broken or dislocated jaw.
• Oral wounds that don’t stop bleeding after ten minutes of applied pressure.
• If your tooth becomes dislodged when no emergency dentist’s office is open, your emergency room can set you up with pain relievers and antibiotics and treat your tooth so it stays in reimplantable condition for up to twenty-four hours.

Neglected to get emergency oral care can lead to worsening pain, injuries, and infections. With your emergency dentist’s help, you can keep your smile in great shape after a dental health crisis.

About the Author

Dr. Neelima Ravi earned her dental degree at the Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine and is undergoing advanced treatment in implant dentistry. She is also a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry. Her office in Hampton offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry. If you are experiencing a dental emergency, dial (603) 926-1551. For non-urgent inquiries, contact the office online.