Urgent Dentist or ER: Should I Go to the Emergency Room or an Emergency Dentist?

When a dental emergency such as a broken tooth, dental infection or severe pain occurs, patients often wonder whether to go to an emergency dentist or to the local emergency room (ER).  The answer to this question depends on your particular dental emergency…Not all dental emergencies are created alike.

Urgent Dentist or ER

Dental emergencies take on many different form and numerous dental ailments are considered emergencies. Tooth injuries including  a cracked or knocked-out (avulsed) tooth are common dental emergencies. Injuries to the inside of the mouth like tears, puncture wounds and lacerations to the tongue, cheeks or lips or a tooth that is forced out of position and loosened are also other problems that need urgent care. Listed below are some criteria that may help a person determine whether to visit a hospital or an emergency dentist for a

Emergency Dentist

An emergency dentist is a dentist experienced in dealing with dental emergencies. A emergency dentist should excel at diagnosing the underlying cause of the dental emergency AND performing the necessary treatment. A good emergency dentist should be proficient in removing teeth (both simple extractions, surgical extractions and wisdom teeth extractions). An emergency dentist should knowledgeable of the newest antibiotics and which medications should be prescribed to emergency dental patients.  An emergency dentist should also be experienced and skilled in endodontics, the field in dentistry involving

root canals.

Emergency Room

1. Swelling of the head or neck that affects breathing or swallowing......Swelling in the face, jaw, or neck—especially if it’s rapidly spreading—can signal a serious, potentially life-threatening, infection. If your breathing or swallowing feels difficult, go to the ER as soon as possible.

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2. Uncontrollable bleeding.....Bleeding that doesn’t stop after 10–15 minutes of steady pressure (for example, after an injury or dental procedure) necessitates a trip to the ER.

3. Indicators of infection with fever......A dental infection paired with fever, chills, fatigue, or a general feeling of being unwell can spread beyond the mouth and often equires urgent medical attention.

4. Severe trauma to the face or jaw......Car accidents, sports injuries, or falls that involve broken facial bones, jaw misalignment, or heavy bleeding should be treated at the ER.

5. Tooth knocked out with other injuries.....If a tooth is knocked out during an incident that includes a head injury, loss of consciousness, or deep cuts, the ER is the right place to go first.

Contact your dentist

For most dental emergencies, you should go to an emergency dentist such as South Kansas CIty Emergency Dental or an ER. This decision should be based on the type and severity of the specific emergency. Dental emergencies do not always occur during the normal office hours of your established dentist. If you find yourself in the unfortunate circumstance of experiencing a dental emergency during non-business hours, on a holiday or a weekend and it is not considered life-threatening or overly painful or disfiguring, it’s best to attempt calling your dentist before opting for alternatives such as an emergency dentist or ER.

At Kansas City Urgent Dental: South Kansas City Emergency Dental we are here to for you during your difficult time. We offer evening and weekend hours to help patients when most other offices are closed.  We provide dental extractions and wisdom teeth extractions, filings, root canals and other emergency dental treatments.

Request an appointment here: www.southkcemergencydental.com or call us at 816-601-1817 for an appointment in our office in Pleasant Hill, MO.