Urgent vs. Non-Urgent Dental Care Services

Knowing when to search 'urgent dental care near me' and if a dental care situation is urgent or non-urgent is critical to ensure your tooth's health. Read more.

What will you do in a dental care situation if you suffer excruciating pain in your mouth? Will you handle it like an urgent care or non-urgent situation?

Most people would not know the answer to this question. This is why we compiled detailed information about urgent vs. non-urgent dental care situations to help you distinguish if you should search for emergency dentist near me or book a regular appointment with your dentist to get to the bottom of the problem.

Let's begin!

Urgent Dental Emergencies

Even though our teeth appear to be a minor part of our bodies, a dental care emergency, such as a knocked-out front tooth, may be incredibly painful and require immediate medical attention.

So here are a few dental care situations that can be considered emergencies and require you to search emergency dentist near me.

Dental Abscess

A dental abscess is an infection within your mouth, usually filled with pus. Some people think they will heal independently if they leave dental abscesses untreated. However, this is not the case, and if left untreated, a tooth abscess or infection can spread to other regions of your body and cause severe medical emergencies.

Unbearable Toothache

If you have a persistent toothache that has worsened and has gotten unbearable, it may be a good time to call the nearest dental emergency facility. An unbearable toothache could occur for several reasons, like a dental abscess or an inflamed tooth.

Regardless of what it is, you should always get it checked out by a trusted dentist to immediately get to the root of the problem, keep it from worsening, and get relief.

Severe Gum or Mouth Laceration

If you fall or hurt yourself and have gotten a severe laceration in your mouth or gum, it is time to head to the emergency dental care unit immediately. Deep lacerations in the mouth can cause heavy bleeding and several other complications, and it is essential to stop the bleeding and get immediate treatment.

Knocked-Out Tooth

A knocked-out tooth should always be considered a medical emergency if the person who lost the tooth is an adult. The doctor could try putting it back and help offer pain relief. So if you ever lose a tooth due to a fall or accident, it is always best to head to the dental emergency unit.

Chipped or Cracked Tooth

Even though a chipped or cracked tooth is usually not painful, if you get immediate medical attention, your chances of repairing or saving the tooth increase. If you take a few days to go to the dentist, they might not bond the broken piece and will have to explore other options.

Displaced Tooth

Displaced tooth, which is usually caused due to trauma, can be severely painful due to damaged tissue and nerves. An emergency care dentist can help free you of the pain and effectively reposition the tooth back to its usual place.

Severe Facial Bone Injury

If a facial bone injury is severe, in some cases, it can make it difficult for a person to breathe properly. In such cases, you must head to a dental emergency unit to get yourself treated and ensure you can get proper oxygen and help.

Uncontrollable Bleeding

Bleeding uncontrollably after trauma or a few hours after dental surgery should always be considered a medical emergency.

If your teeth are bleeding a lot after a dental procedure or accident and you seem unable to stop, it is always wise to head to the dental emergency unit to get medical assistance. Continuous bleeding can cause weakness, iron deficiency, severe fatigue, etc., so it is essential to stop it as soon as possible.

Lastly, it is critical not to panic if you suffer from any of the above-mentioned dental emergencies. Rather than panicking, take a few deep breaths and search for emergency dental care near me to get yourself checked and treated by professionals.

Making the right decisions when confronted with a dental care issue can help you save a tooth, keep the condition from worsening and avoid having any regrets later on.

Non-Urgent Dental Care Emergencies

Now that you know the most common dental emergency circumstances, here are a few dental concerns that may not require urgent treatment.

Mild Toothache

Mild toothache is typically tolerable. So, it is unnecessary to seek emergency care if you have a mild toothache. Instead, schedule a regular visit with your dentist to get to the issue's root. While patiently waiting for your dentist's appointment, you could always take over-the-counter NSAID pain relief medications like naproxen to minimize the discomfort.

Minor Cracks or Chips

Minor cracks or chips to the tooth are usually not painful and go unnoticed. So if you have a minor crack or chip, there is no need to contact an emergency dental clinic, and you can schedule a regular checkup with the family dentist to get it fixed.

Missing Crown, Filling, or Bridge

Missing a crown, bridge, or filling is considered a regular occurrence and is typically not a major source of concern. So, if this happens to you, try to locate the missing crown, bridge, or filling and bring it to your dentist by scheduling a regular appointment with them.

Important tip! Remember, if you are ever stuck in a dental care situation where you are unsure if it is urgent or non-urgent, it is always best to contact your family dentist and ask them for advice.

Get Immediate Assistance from Emergency Dental Services in West Hills

Now that you are well-versed in urgent and non-urgent dental care situations, you can use the advice mentioned above to make the right decisions if you are ever confronted with similar situations.

If you live in the west hills area and are looking for dental treatment in west hills, ca, you can find the best dentist near west hills at our facility West Hills Smiles. We also offer emergency dental services in west hills and several other services like teeth whitening in west hills, ca, etc.

If you have any queries on our services, contact us now.