Emergency Dentist Vs. ER: When To Go To Which

man experiencing a toothache with hand over mouth in pain

Any dental emergency can be scary and cause you to panic at the moment. Dental emergencies often need immediate attention. It may be hard to determine how serious your dental emergency is and which level of care you need at that time. Is it an extreme emergency and your dentist is closed? Or can you avoid the hassle of an ER and wait until your dentist is open the next morning. Learn more about dental emergencies and whether you should choose an emergency dentist or a visit to urgent care or the ER.

What Is A Dental Emergency?

A dental emergency is an emergency that affects the teeth, mouth, gums, or jaw. A sudden accident, injury, or other related incident to the mouth area often causes this emergency. These include a sports accident or facial injury, as well as an underlying condition, such as gum disease, that causes pain or an infection. Below are some common dental emergencies that you should be aware of to understand better whether or not this treatment can be delayed or taken care of at home on your own.

  • A severe toothache
  • Cracked or chipped tooth
  • Knocked out tooth
  • Abscessed tooth
  • Swollen jaw or gums
  • Dislodged or partially dislodged tooth
  • Busted lip or gum area
  • Lost crown, bridge, veneer

When To See A Dentist For A Dental Emergency

If the emergency involves a filling, veneer, crown, bridge, or other type of dental work falling out, seeing a dentist for care is the best option. The dentist is the one who placed or cemented this dental work in your mouth. Therefore, they have the tools and equipment to put it back in. The emergency room is not a place for this type of emergency because they have to deal with more important and serious cases. A toothache or chipped tooth is also not considered an “emergency room emergency”. However, they can be serious and painful, because they are not extreme emergencies that cannot be mildly calmed at home. If you can use an ice pack to relieve some of the symptoms at home, waiting for your dentist to open the next day is the best option. 

Types Of Emergency Dental Services

Whether your general dentist is open but doesn’t offer emergency dental services, or you already have an emergency dentist, below are some options where you should see an emergency dentist rather than just a family or general dentist who may not be open during your emergency.

  • A very severe toothache
  • A deep cut or slice in your mouth/on your lip
  • A tooth that has been knocked out of your mouth
  • A tooth that is hanging or half dislodged from your mouth
  • A broken bridge that is hanging out with the implant exposed

When To See The Emergency Room For A Dental Emergency

There are more severe cases that should be directly sent to the emergency room and not your dentist or emergency dentist. These cases include dental emergencies above with additional symptoms and side effects. Below are some dental emergencies that should be sent to the hospital instead of waiting for your dentist to open up the following day. 

  • A tooth has been knocked out, and the jaw has been impacted. An emergency room visit is needed to be sure the jaw has not been broken.
  • Abscessed tooth causing pain, fever, chills, pus, difficulty breathing or swallowing. 
  • Severe cuts to the mouth that will not stop bleeding.
  • Traumatic facial injury or dental pain that affects your speech and how your jaw works and brings unbearable pain.

Emergency Dentist Available For Dental Emergencies: Contact Jo-Anne Johnson DMD Family Dentistry 

Whether you are unsure if your emergency requires the expert care of our emergency dentist or a hospital, give our office a call first thing! We are more than happy to guide you in the right direction or have you come to our office first for a quick exam. Our emergency dentist is available for unexpected emergencies and is more than happy to help you whenever you need it. If it is something more serious, you can rest assured that our team will guide you through it and step you in the right direction. Learn more about our emergency dental services, and contact us today at 603-471-6000.