Emergency dentists often perform tooth extractions.
An emergency dentist treats dental emergencies. Generally, a dental emergency is one that involves extreme pain or damage to the tooth. For example, if a tooth needs immediate extraction or a filling or crown becomes loose and causes pain, it is a dental emergency. In contrast, if a person needs to have their teeth professionally cleaned or has a cavity that needs to be filled but does not hurt, it is not a dental emergency. Most emergency dentists are open 24/7 to handle dental emergencies when they occur, although the availability of an emergency dentist often depends on a patient’s location.
Any type of extreme pain or damage to the teeth is considered a dental emergency.
Typically, an emergency dentist deals with situations involving severe pain and injury. These urgent situations can include extreme cavities, an abscessed or infected tooth, or a broken tooth. Emergency dentists often perform extractions or, if the tooth is salvageable, fill a cavity. These dentists can also treat swollen gums due to infection or disease. The prescription or dispensing of medications by the dentist, such as pain relievers or antibiotics, depends on the specific situation of each patient and the dentist’s policy.
It may be advisable to visit an emergency dentist if the toothache intensifies or persists.
Some dental emergencies are more complicated than an extraction or filling. For example, an emergency dentist may need to perform an emergency root canal. If there is pain, he can replace a crown that has fallen out or apply a temporary crown until the patient can make an appointment for a permanent replacement. Likewise, if a tooth is cracked but not chipped or knocked out, an emergency dentist can stabilize it until the patient’s regular dentist can fix it. People who lose teeth due to accidents or other injuries can visit emergency dentists for a reattachment.
An emergency dentist may need to apply a temporary crown.
Due to the nature of their profession, emergency dentists often offer services 24 hours a day. This means that the office is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Thus, a patient who wakes up at three in the morning with a severe toothache can seek emergency dental care immediately, instead of waiting for office hours to schedule an appointment.
Emergency dentists often drill and fill a cavity.
Unfortunately, emergency dentists are not found in all areas. Generally, large cities are home to one or more emergency dentists, while smaller rural areas have dentists who only work traditional hours. For some patients this means driving an hour or more to find an emergency dentist, but for others it means waiting until their regular dentist opens the market.