Emergency Dentist

Emergency DentistStamford, CTFor many people, it can be tough to decide when their tooth pain warrants a visit to an emergency dentist. On some occasions, the pain can be debilitating and interrupt your normal routine. Sleeping, working, eating and even concentrating can be hard or impossible if a dental issue is messing up your life.
If you are dealing with incredible pain or damage to your teeth, you should contact your dentist for advice. Sometimes, taking a painkiller might be all you need. Other times, you need quick treatment, but the dentist cannot see you. If your emergency happens after office hours, on a holiday or a weekend, then you will need to see an emergency dentist.
Schedule An Appointment

Schedule Online

Schedule Online

What is an emergency dentist?

The emergency dentist specializes in providing urgent dental treatment for severe pain or any other dental condition that poses an immediate threat. The emergency dentist can adjust their schedule to meet your needs. They also offer you same-day appointments to help with your pain and preserve the health of your mouth. These dentists often open earlier and close later than a typical dental office. Choosing an emergency dentist gives you faster pain relief and can help prevent permanent damage to your teeth.

What is a dental emergency?

Dental issues are a common occurrence. While you can wait for some situations to heal with time, others require immediate dental attention to stop the pain or avert complications. In many cases, patients could have a hard time deciding if their condition is an emergency, especially if they are not experiencing any major symptom.

Here are questions to ask yourself:

Is the permanent tooth loose?

Is their severe pain or bleeding?

Is there a sign of infection, fever, foul odor or gum and facial swelling?

Can the knocked-out tooth still be saved with prompt dental care?

If the answers to these questions are “yes,” then you should seek prompt dental care from an emergency dentist close to you.

Emergency dental treatments

The dentist is experienced in diagnosing and treating many dental issues, including:

Extreme toothache: Toothache, especially if the pain is radiating toward the ear or along the jaw

Broken tooth: If your tooth is broken, the sharp corners can harm the surrounding tissues. The tooth itself may suffer additional damage if repair is not done immediately

Severe tooth sensitivity: If you suddenly start experiencing sharp tooth pain when drinking hot or cold foods or beverages, there could be a hidden infection or fracture

Root canal: Sometimes, the tooth pain may be caused by severe tooth decay or injuries that require tooth canal treatment. Deferring or refusing to go for the treatment could result in more severe oral issues, including tooth loss and serious oral infection. Due to the severity of the conditions that require the procedure, root canal treatment can be considered a dental emergency

Abscessed tooth: A tooth with severe infections can develop an abscess. This causes severe tooth pain, swelling, fever, sores and other major issues

Damaged dental fillings: If you suffer a hard fall or accident that damages your dental filling, you might need to visit the emergency dentist to have it repaired. The tooth will be vulnerable to further decay until it is fixed

Knocked-out teeth: If your tooth gets knocked out from an accident or injury, you need to reach out to the emergency dentist immediately to see if the tooth can be saved

Persistent sinus pressure: Recurrent sinus pressure can cause serious discomfort, but it could indicate a more severe dental condition if it occurs with tooth pain. Emergency treatment will be required for healing

When you visit the dental office for your emergency appointment, the emergency dentist will first try to stabilize your tooth and reduce pain. They may give you medicine to also alleviate the swelling and sensitivity. The dentist may be able to resolve the problem on your first visit, while other issues may require two or more dental appointments.

How to make your emergency appointment

Many emergency dentists provide 24-hour services. Others offer same-day appointments and walk-in services to anyone who needs quick dental care. If you are visiting the dental office for the first time, you will need to complete paperwork concerning your health and medical history. They will also take any information about your dental insurance and payment method before commencing treatment.

In most cases, patients call the dental office first to get the quickest possible treatment for their dental issues. You will get additional details about when the dentist will be ready to see you and treat your condition.

Sometimes, you will be placed on antibiotic or anti-inflammatory drugs to start your treatment. This will relieve the pain and swelling before the dentist identifies the cause of the problem.

Preparing for your emergency treatment

Before going to the dentist’s office, try to make a complete list of all the current medications you are using to make the process easier. If you have allergies to certain drugs or substances, ensure you put it on the paperwork too. The information you provide will help the emergency dentist specify the best and most effective treatment for your situation.

Certain health conditions can also have adverse effects on your teeth and gum health. Be as thorough as you can be when completing any forms. Conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, hemophilia and diabetes can all threaten the success of your dental procedure. If your dentist knows all the health conditions you have, they will take proper measures to prevent possible complications during oral surgery or restorative treatment.

What to do while waiting for emergency care

Sometimes, it can take a while before reaching the nearest emergency dentist. Before you get emergency care, it is important that you stay as calm as possible. If the tooth is severely loose or knocked out, try to keep it in the socket. At the very least, store the knocked-out tooth in your mouth until you get to the doctor. You can get significant pain relief by rinsing your mouth with salt water. If there is swelling, you can place an ice pack on your cheek for relief.

An emergency dentist can save your smile

Rapid dental treatment from the emergency dentist can help save the tooth and keep your smile in great shape. If you ever find yourself looking for fast dental care, call our office to visit an emergency dentist.