Continue reading to learn where you need to go in the event of a dental emergency. While we hope you never have to use this information, it’s better to prepare for the worse and hope for the best.
When to Go to the Hospital for a Dental Emergency
Go to the hospital if you have a life-threatening condition. For example, a large dental abscess can limit your ability to breathe and swallow. Likewise, you would need to visit the ER after breaking your jaw. Serious medical issues like these are best addressed by hospital staff.
Visit the hospital for these emergencies:
- Fractured jaw
- Dislocated jaw
- Deep cuts to the mouth and face that won’t stop bleeding
- A large dental abscess that makes it difficult to breathe or swallow
Don’t visit an ER or urgent care center for a toothache. These facilities don’t hire dentists and can’t treat the underlying causes of toothaches. Most states ban non-dentists from extracting teeth and performing other dental work. The only thing a medical doctor can do is prescribe antibiotics and pain relievers. They’ll then refer you to an emergency dentist.
It actually costs more money to visit the ER first before seeing our emergency dentist. Save yourself the hospital bill by calling us first. Our dentist will be able to diagnose and treat the source of your dental pain, restoring oral health.
When to Call Our Emergency Dentist
Our emergency dentist will be able to diagnose the underlying cause of your pain. For example, you may have an infected tooth if a cavity is deep enough to penetrate the pulp. Likewise, experiencing dental pain upon waking up could mean you grind your teeth at night. The only way to know for certain is to request an appointment with our emergency dentist.
Visit our dentist for these emergencies:
- Severe tooth pain
- Dental abscess
- Swollen gums
- Loose tooth
- Knocked-out tooth
- A broken tooth or large piece of the tooth is missing
- A large chip or crack in the tooth
Don’t put off seeing our emergency dentist. The sooner you seek urgent dental care, the sooner we’ll be able to treat issues before they grow. This could mean the difference between you needing a filling and an emergency root canal. We always try to save as much natural tooth structure as possible. Yet, this can be difficult if you wait until the last minute to seek emergency dental care.
Have a Dental Emergency?
Our office understands that each minute is critical when responding to emergencies. If you’re not sure if you need emergency dental care, call us anyways. We can help walk you through your next steps.
Our emergency dentist in Kalamazoo, MI, is accepting new patients! To schedule an appointment with Kalamazoo Smiles, call (269) 353-3700.
Sudden, severe oral pain has the power to ruin your day. But, what should you do if a dental emergency becomes unbearable? Before you rush to the emergency room, speak with an emergency dentist if you can.
Serving Lombard, IL, and surrounding areas, Dr. Julie Glud handles dental emergencies at Dental Care of Lombard. After resolving your oral health dilemma, Dr. Glud can show you what to do to prevent it from happening again. So, call (630) 629-5700 as soon as you realize that your oral health is heading for disaster.
Generally speaking, it’s better to visit the emergency dentist than urgent care for dental emergencies, and here are three reasons why:
Only a Dentist can Practice Dentistry
Although this initial point may seem obvious, some may not realize that most states do not allow just any doctor to perform emergency dentistry. For example, dentists can only perform tooth extractions or any other restorative dental care.
Urgent care doctors can provide temporary relief by prescribing painkillers or antibiotics in the grimmest cases. However, this only alleviates symptoms temporarily. Eventually, you will still need to make a trip to the dentist’s office to address the problem appropriately.
ER Visits Are More Expensive than a Trip to the Emergency Dentist
Notoriously, emergency room visits are costly. This is because the total emergency room cost can be broken down into multiple fees, including:
- Triage fees
- Facility fees
- Professional fees
- Supply fees
In Illinois, the average cost of an emergency room visit without insurance costs $1,818—which is just shy of the U.S’s average cost of a whopping $2,200.
As a blanket statement, emergency dental visits are not more expensive than traditional dental appointments. However, additional treatments (for example, pulling a tooth and immediately replacing it with a dental implant) may add to the total cost of treatment.
Thankfully, health insurance providers must cover emergency dental care under the Affordable Care Act. Deductibles, co-pays, and annual maximums should remain consistent with standard care.
However, please speak to our friendly and understanding team about our DCL Smile Club. Our in-house dental plan gives those without insurance access to more affordable dental care.
Emergency Rooms are Crowded Right Now
Since the beginning of the pandemic, it’s no secret that emergency rooms are more crowded than ever, which usually translates to delayed treatment and sub-operational spaces. Unfortunately, crowded emergency rooms could cost you more than a pretty penny—it could cost you your life.
As ER wait times increase, so do mortality rates. According to one study, investigators discovered that wait times rose between 5 and 8 hours, and the death rate raised 8% higher than expected. Additionally, when the waiting time was between 8 to 12 hours, the death rate was 10% higher than expected.
Speak to an Emergency Dentist in Lombard, IL
Suppose you suffer from a possible broken jaw, an oral infection that causes a high fever, or other similar issues. In that case, it’s appropriate to visit the emergency room or call 911 immediately.
Conversely, dental emergencies are defined as:
- Bleeding that doesn’t stop
- A gum infection causing swelling and discomfort
- Pain from a broken filling, tooth loss, or other dental trauma
- Uncomfortable swelling in or around the mouth
In case of a dental emergency, type “emergency dentist near me” in your favorite search engine, and book an appointment for the next available appointment.
Book an emergency dental appointment in Lombard, IL, by calling (630) 629-5700 or contacting us online.