Emergency dentistry is a critical service provided by general dentists, oral surgeons, endodontists, and other dental specialties.
The purpose of emergency dentistry is to provide relief from pain, swelling, and trauma. Severe pain can make hours feel like days and days feel like weeks. Getting in to see a dentist quickly can make a huge difference in pain relief as well as the severity and recovery time.
Life is unpredictable and emergencies can strike at any time, day or night. Weekend or holiday.
In order for a dentist to be able to provide adequate and reliable emergency dental relief, they need to be able to accept walk-ins, offer same/next day appointments, have extended/after hours, be open 7 days a week, and/or be open on the weekends.
Additionally, a dentist should be sought who has experience and shows empathy to their patient. It is also often beneficial if they also have state-of-the-art technology in order to have as much information as possible prior to performing dental surgery.
A caring staff will also help to calm the patient and assure them that they will soon get the relief they are in need of.
What does a dental emergency consist of?
Some dental emergencies include (but are not limited to):
- a cracked or chipped tooth
- abscess
- a filling
- bridge or crown falling out
- toothache or jaw pain
- broken denture
- the loss of a permanent tooth
- excessive swelling
- bleeding
- redness
Pain can indicate an infection that will need to be addressed in a timely manner.
It is important to recognize that while dental emergencies often involve pain, they don’t always.
Failure of dental restorations can also be considered a dental emergency. These failures can result in problems relating to aesthetics and functions, such as eating.
Your dentist may need to prescribe medication and/or antibiotics after your visit, but not always.
If you are looking for an emergency dentist in Chicago, IL, Dr. Jin Young Maeng of Urban Smiles Dental can help.