You may be suffering from a dental emergency overnight or on the weekend and you are afraid that you cannot be helped. Do not panic since there is a solution to this situation: contact an emergency dentist.
Finding an emergency dentist
To find an emergency dentist, you can do a little research via the Internet. Simply put the appropriate keywords such as: "emergency dentist" + "your city". You can also call your doctor or your usual pharmacist and see if they might have the number of an emergency dentist you can call. In some smaller cities, it can be difficult to find an emergency dentist. If you cannot find an open or available dentist, and you are experiencing what you feel is a dental emergency, it is best to go to a regular medical doctor, an urgent care, or an emergency room to be sure.
If you are able to be seen by an emergency dentist, here is what you can expect.
Examination by a specialist
The emergency dentist will perform and examination and then make a complete diagnosis of your problem. They will carry out a meticulous check of the oral cavity in order to determine the causes, the risks, and the interventions to be made in your situation. It is also not uncommon for an X-ray or dental photographs to be taken in the event of a dental emergency. They may also order some blood tests to identify any pathogens or infections. Before administering any treatments, the dentist must have certain information about you, so be prepared to help them by providing the following information:
- Any allergies you suffer from (drugs, food, minerals, etc.)
- Any medications you are taking. Here, make sure to be as thorough as possible, as some medications interact negatively with others and your dentist will need to know to avoid possible drug interactions
- Systemic diseases such as diabetes, HIV, kidney or liver failure, high blood pressure, or any other chronic illness you might have
- Your dental history in order to give you the appropriate medication
Trauma Management
The majority of all dental emergencies are caused by accidents such as a fall or being hit in the mouth with a projectile. An emergency dentist will be able to provide trauma management, where they will provide symptomatic treatment of the pain and also take a closer look at the trauma. Your emergency dentist may be able to intervene surgically in order to limit any damage caused by the trauma, but this depends on available equipment and the availability of support staff to help with any operation.
Management of infection
The dental emergency can have an infectious origin. This is most cases for dental abscesses, dental caries, gingivitis or periodontitis. The proliferation of pathogens in this area often causes significant inflammation, which could explain any intense pain that you are feeling. After examining your mouth and teeth and offering painkillers, the emergency dentist can then deal with the problem, namely the overgrowth of bacteria. In general, they will offer antibiotic therapy, a course of broad-spectrum antibiotics that can last more than a week.