When you have a toothache, you find a dentist to help relieve the pain. Sometimes, however, you do not have the time to wait for an appointment. When a dentist is booked full, you may have to wait days, or even weeks, before they can see you. It’s key to find an emergency dentist near me when the pain is too much to handle.

In these scenarios, you might have to find emergency dentistry that can offer care right away. This type of dentistry service focuses on helping patients who have an urgent need for dental solutions. The services required can include extractions, infection control, or even emergency surgical procedures in some cases. 

What’s considered a dental emergency?

The American Family Physician reports an estimated 22% of the US population experience oral pain at least once in any six-month period. 

A medical facility providing emergency dental options will usually only provide specific services. This is why you should be aware of what situations are considered a dental emergency. 

There are cases where a problem isn’t considered an emergency. In these scenarios, an emergency dental care center may not be able to help you. Since these facilities work with urgent cases, they usually reserve their open spots for patients who require emergency services immediately upon arrival. 

• When you lose a tooth, this may sometimes classify as an emergency. Depending on how the tooth was lost, bleeding, pain, and inflammation may be experienced as severe symptoms. In these scenarios, a dentist needs to stop the bleeding. There are also scenarios where the tooth could be saved, but only when the problem is attended to immediately. 
• Severe pain in the mouth is another scenario that generally qualifies for emergency dental services. There are many reasons why severe pain may develop in the oral cavity. If the pain is accompanied by bleeding in the mouth, it is all the more reason to visit an emergency dental clinic. 
• Infection is yet another reason why a dental clinic offering emergency services need to be consulted. If there is swelling, enflamed redness, and/or pain in your face or gums, it could signal the presence of an infection. When the infection causes an abscess to develop, it can sometimes become life-threatening. Urgent treatment is highly advised, ideally before the symptoms become severe. 

These are only three scenarios that call for emergency services. Any type of dental problem that would need immediate attention should be considered eligible for this type of dentistry. If you’re not sure if your scenario would classify as an emergency, contacting a clinic that offers these services can be helpful. 

Can I go to the ER for a dental emergency?

The emergency room at the local hospital will usually not be able to assist with common dental problems. Usually, emergency dental care is for emergency dentists near me. There are, however, cases where going to the ER is essential. It is important to understand when it’s appropriate to visit the ER department and when a visit to a dental emergency clinic would rather be the better option. 

A few reasons why you may want to consider the ER include:

• When the pain rises to a point where it feels unbearable, there may be complications that have already developed. It is especially important for the patient to take note of spreading pain. If the pain spreads throughout the neck and jaw, it could be a sign of spreading infection. 
• When there is bleeding in the mouth that won’t stop. The staff at the ER will be able to assist in stopping the bleeding. 

Can I get a tooth pulled today?

A dental emergency often involves a lot of pain. There may be an infection or bleeding, or a complication may have developed due to a broken tooth. In some cases, you might experience an extreme level of sensitivity at the nerve of the affected tooth. 

There are some cases where you may need to look for same-day tooth extraction. These situations require careful work from the dentist. The severe pain is caused by an underlying cause. This can be related to an infection, for example. If a tooth is pulled while there is an abscess, there is a risk of the bacteria leaking into the patient’s bloodstream. In this case, you may may develop a systematic infection, which can sometimes be life-threatening.

With this in mind, the first step is for the dentist to do a careful inspection. The dentist will usually be able to provide you with a drug that helps with pain relief. During the inspection, the dentist needs to determine how severe the condition is. 

In some cases, the dentist may first provide a different treatment. When there is a severe infection, the dentist may provide you with antibiotics. IV administration can help to speed up the time it takes for the antibiotics to start working. 

The dentist will decide if the same day extraction is possible. It is important for you to understand the risks that can sometimes be associated with the process. There are cases where surgery may be needed to remove the tooth. In this case, it may not be possible to do the same day removal, except if the dentist feels the situation is an emergency and requires immediate surgery. 

How can I get emergency dental treatment?

When you experience a dental problem, the first step is to consider the severity. Consider how severe the pain is. If you already know why you have pain, then it’s sometimes easier to determine whether it’s an emergency. 

Take note of the scenarios we mentioned previously in this post. This provides a guideline to help you know if the situation you face is an emergency. If so, then proceed to the next step of the process. 

You should start by looking for a dentist that can help. Look for a dentist that is close to you. It may be a good idea to call beforehand. This ensures the dentist already expects you and can make appropriate preparations if needed. 

What If I can’t get an emergency dentist appointment?

There are times when the closest dentist near you will be fully booked. Turning to an emergency dentist could also lead to no help. When the office of such a clinic is already filled with patients in need of emergency dentistry, you’ll need to be patient and wait for an opening. 

In these cases, you need to consider how urgent your situation really is. Should you find that waiting is not an option, you have a few options. 

1. You can consider looking for a walk-in dentist near me. These dentists will often be able to see you without an appointment. When there are multiple dentists working at the facility, you’ll be able to get treatment faster. You can also discuss your situation with the receptionist. Sometimes, the receptionist can make arrangements for you. 
2. If the pain is too much to handle, spreads to other parts of your face and neck, or there is bleeding involved, then consider the ER. The emergency department at your local hospital will usually have the capacity to help you immediately. While this will likely not lead to tooth extraction, the staff can at least help to control the pain. If an infection is present, the staff may be able to initiate a dose of antibiotics too. 

Where can I find an emergency dentist near me?

When you are faced with a dental emergency, you do not want to drive an hour to a clinic if it can be avoided. Knowing how to find an emergency dental clinic in your local area is important. This helps you gain access to emergency treatment services without a long drive. 

Consider signing up at a platform that gives you access to emergency dental services. Opencare lets you search for dentists in your area based on various criteria. Not only can you find a regular dentist, but this type of platform also allows you to search for clinics and facilities that offer emergency dentistry. 

Final thoughts

A tooth infection, severe tooth pain, or injury to your jaw all call for emergency dental care. When you have an emergency on your hands, waiting for a dentist appointment at the professional, you usually use may not be a viable option. These scenarios call for urgent dental care. With a platform like Opencare, you get access to standard and emergency dental services with a few clicks.