It’s everyone’s worst nightmare. You’re getting ready to head out on the vacation of a lifetime, and a shooting pain appears in your mouth. Or maybe you’re preparing for a big interview when you’re hit in the face with a basketball at the gym, knocking out a tooth.
What should you do?
While most dental issues do not require immediate care, there are times when urgent care will be needed.
Luckily, many dentists (including Bridgetown Dental) offer emergency dentist appointments for just this situation. With emergency appointments, we’ll be able to get you on the books ASAP to help relieve pain and get you back on your feet feeling great.
What is considered a dental emergency?
Broadly, if you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms, you likely NEED an emergency dentist appointment:
- Severe pain from your mouth, teeth, gums, or jaw
- Lost or knocked out tooth
- Severely damaged or broken tooth
- Pain when chewing, brushing, or speaking
The reason that we consider these issues emergencies is simple: they are either very uncomfortable for you, or they could result in a serious injury, such as an infection that could spread to other parts of your body. Additionally, any oral health issue that could get worse without immediate attention needs to be attended to ASAP.
Most of the time, dental emergencies that are not life threatening can and should be treated at your dentist. Not only is your dentist better trained to treat oral health problems, but going to the dentist will be much cheaper than an emergency room visit.
Do you need to go to the emergency room?
While most oral health issues should be treated at the dentist, there are times when a visit to the emergency room or urgent care facility will be needed.
You should go to the emergency room if you’re experiencing…
- Extreme infections
- Massive blood loss
- Broken jaw or facial trauma
- Injury in other parts of your body
- Trouble breathing normally
What is not a dental emergency
Every person’s pain tolerance and oral health situation is completely different. Anytime that you feel that you are in too much pain to wait or that you need attention, you should always feel empowered to give us a call.
That said, there are some appointments that do not require immediate attention and can wait. These include:
- Annual exam and routine cleanings
- Non-life-threatening orthodontic procedures
- Routine restorative procedures such as fillings, implants, or crowns
- Cosmetic procedures
Currently experiencing a dental emergency?
If you’re currently experiencing a dental emergency, call us to schedule an emergency dentist appointment.
At Bridgetown Dental, we are prepared to help you in whatever way you need to get you feeling better. When you come in for your appointment, Dr. Kaady will sit down with you to determine what’s going on before conducting a thorough oral exam. He’ll then explain his findings, lay out your treatment options, and answer your questions or concerns.
Contact us today to schedule your emergency dentistry appointment.
Have you knocked out a tooth?
Knocked out teeth need to be taken care of gently to attempt saving the tooth.
- Always pick up the tooth by the crown. NEVER touch the root if it can be avoided
- If soiled, carefully rinse with water
- If possible, place the tooth back in the socket as it was prior
- If not, keep the tooth moist. We recommend keeping in milk
How to prepare for the possibility of a dental emergency in the future
While dental emergencies are always a surprise, there is a lot you can do to be ready should an emergency strike.
Firstly, keep our number — (503) 286-5654 — in your phone for quick reference in case of an emergency. You should also know where the closest emergency room or urgent care facility is.
Above all else though, placing a priority on your oral health will go a long way towards avoiding emergency appointments in the first place. Biannual exams and cleanings, eating a nutritious diet, and practicing good oral hygiene at home will all put your oral health in an excellent position to succeed.
Dentist emergency FAQs
Are emergency dentist visits covered by insurance?
Every single dentist insurance plan is different, so your visit may or may not be covered by insurance. Most plans will cover at least some of your appointment, with the rest needing to be paid out of pocket by you.
Questions about your insurance coverage? Give us a call! We’d be happy to give you insight on what is covered by your insurance.
Do I need to be a current patient?
No! You do not need to be a patient of record for us to be able to help you. Please give us a call and we will do our best to arrange a visit with Dr. Kaady and get your emergency resolved.
What are common procedures performed during emergency dentist visits?
While most dental emergencies are a result of trauma or severe tooth decay, there are lots of reasons why you might need an emergency dentist appointment.
We know that no 2 emergency appointments are the same. We offer a full range of emergency dentist services to get patients back up on their feet. Some common treatments we perform as part of emergency dentist appointments include:
- Root canals
- Extractions
- FIllings
- Crowns
Do you offer sedation dentistry at emergency appointments?
To help our patients feel comfortable during the stress of their dental emergency, we offer sedation options for emergency appointments and after treatment, including:
- Nitrous oxide
- Prescription medications
Work with an emergency dentist who values your comfort
At Bridgetown Dental, we want you to have a positive relationship with your oral health. If you are in pain or need immediate treatment, we’re here for you.
Give us a call at (503) 286-5654 or contact us online to schedule an emergency appointment today.