Emergency Dental Care Saves Teeth
When your mouth or teeth start hurting, it can be the only thing you can think about. Toothache and irritated gums can be debilitating. Worse, accidents can crack teeth and crowns, pop out fillings, or even knock out teeth. These kinds of incidents don’t just harm your appearance--they can change the way you speak, eat, or even go about your daily life. During critical moments of severe pain or injury, it is helpful to seek emergency dental care.
In Columbia, MD, and the surrounding area, there are many dental clinics. However, not all of them can adequately address dental problems on short notice. Emergency dentists are essential when there's an immediate need. When you or a loved one has a dental emergency, be sure to have the number of a dependable emergency dentistry clinic available. Below are just a few reasons why having access to emergency care can be valuable when
choosing your dentist.
The Benefits of Emergency Dental Care
A simple fact of life is that the unexpected can happen at any time. Loose taffy can destroy a filling, eating ice might crack a dental crown, or playing a little too hard during soccer practice might lead to a jaw injury or a missing tooth. Even sudden, persistent discomfort from a cavity or tooth decay can ruin someone’s day. In these cases, it's crucial to avoid touching the injured area excessively and consider using a cold compress to reduce swelling. To that end, it is helpful to join a practice which offers emergency dental treatments after hours. Advantages include:
Ease of Scheduling: Many dental clinics require that patients arrange an appointment weeks or even months in advance. Tooth pain, especially from an abscess or toothache, doesn't adhere to a schedule, so it helps to work with a dentist who is available when you most need them.
After-Hours Availability: Dental accidents do not always happen during business hours. When you encounter teeth, gum, or tongue irritation at any time, especially if there's swelling or risk of infection, choose an office that offers 24-hour dental care.
Time-Intensive Recovery: Knocked-out teeth can be placed back in their original sockets, but the procedure must be performed quickly. You must also take care to prevent infection. In such cases, when time is a luxury, finding an emergency dental clinic can be a lifesaver.
What an Emergency Dentist Might Treat
No two dental emergencies are ever quite alike. So when something happens, it helps to know
what you can do in the event of a dental emergency. Here are a few situations that may require a visit to an after-hours dental clinic:
- Severe Tooth Pain or Toothaches
- Cut Tongue, Lip, or Cheek
- Abscess or infection
- Broken Tooth
- Damaged Crowns or Implants
- Knocked-out Tooth
- Tooth Decay
- Jaw Injury or Broken Jaw
- Bleeding after Baby Tooth Falls Out
- Cold or Canker Sore (and if the pain is severe, it might indicate a serious infection. Always consult with a dentist if in doubt, and avoid heading to an emergency room for dental issues if a specialized clinic is available)
