Emergency Dental Care vs. Non-Emergency Dental Care – What is the Difference?

Understanding the distinction between an urgent and non-urgent dental emergency can help you save a tooth. A knocked-out tooth, for example, should be treated by an emergency dentist the same day, regardless of whether the injury occurred within office hours. 

If you believe your situation is urgent, google “emergency dental office near me” office as soon as possible. However, you should distinguish between emergency and non-emergency cases.

What is a Dental Emergency?

The following urgent dental emergencies require quick attention:

• Unbearable toothache
• An abscess in the mouth
• Teeth that are loose
• A tooth that has been knocked out
• A broken tooth or a substantial chunk of a tooth is missing
• Large tooth crack or chip

If the dental injury occurs after hours, your initial call should be to our emergency dentistry. In a dental emergency, the message on the answering machine should instruct you on how to contact your dentist. The sooner you seek medical attention, the less likely you will require costly dental repairs in the future.

What to Do If You Have a Toothache? 

Toothaches are frequently caused by food getting lodged between teeth. Flossing can occasionally help reduce mild toothaches caused by this. Warm water rinsing is also recommended. If the discomfort does not go away, make an appointment with an emergency dentist. They may be able to restore your tooth with a filling or crown if you have a cavity. The earlier you act, the less intrusive your therapy will be.

What to Do If You Have a Gum Abscess?

Do not pop a gum abscess like a pimple. Instead, make an appointment with an emergency dentist so that they can drain the abscess safely. Based on the severity of the infection, they may recommend scaling and root planing, a root canal, or even tooth extraction. A gum abscess will not disappear on its own. 

What to Do If You Have a Loose Tooth? 

Gums, jawbone tissue, and other teeth support our teeth. As a result, various factors might cause a tooth to loosen. Because of receding gums, bone loss in your jaw, or previous tooth loss, your tooth may become unstable. If you were hit in the face. The only method to determine the underlying reason for a loose tooth is to visit an emergency dentist.

What to Do If You Have a Knocked-Out Tooth?

You must seek emergency dental care within 30 minutes of losing a tooth. Take the tooth by the crown (chewing surface) rather than the roots. That way, you won't harm the roots, making it impossible for our dentist to replace the tooth.

Rinse your tooth gently and try to replace it in its socket. If this fails, wrap your teeth in clean gauze and soak it in milk. Natural teeth, like dentures, will dry up and crack if not maintained wet.

What to Do If You Have a Broken, Fractured, or Chipped Tooth? 

Call a 24-hour emergency dentist right away. Rinse your mouth with warm water while you wait for your appointment. Apply a cold compress to your cheek to help with pain management. Avoid putting crushed aspirin on your teeth since it can harm your gums and enamel.

What Are Non-Emergency Dental Conditions?

If you have a non-urgent dental emergency, you can book an appointment with your dentist during regular office hours. If your filling falls out on Saturday afternoon, you can have a new one set on Monday morning.

Non-emergency dental issues include: 

• A missing filling, crown, or bridge
• Painful toothache
• Food stuck between teeth
• A minor chip or crack in a tooth

Quick thinking is frequently what prevents a tooth from requiring an expensive dental treatment or being pulled away. If you suffer from tooth pain and discomfort, seek treatment as soon as possible. The sooner you seek emergency dental care, the sooner you can relieve discomfort and avoid further damage to your teeth and gums.