If it’s during regular business hours, they might be able to see you. Outside normal business hours, other treatment options for a dental emergency include an emergency center or an emergency room for serious mouth injuries. In general, any dental problem that needs immediate treatment to stop bleeding, relieve severe pain, or save a tooth is considered an emergency. Talk to your dentist if you have a toothache, an injury, or trauma to your mouth that includes broken or missing teeth, cuts, and other damage.
Although quality preventative care can help keep some issues at bay, dental emergencies can arise. On the other hand, a filling that fell out, a small chipped tooth, or a broken wire on a brace could be things that can wait until your dentist has an appointment. However, always talk to your dentist for instructions on what action to take. Dental emergencies can cause severe pain, discomfort, and swelling and can even lead to more serious problems later on. But if you don’t know exactly what to look for, it can be difficult to determine whether you need emergency dental care.
If you have toothache, it’s important to know whether you need emergency dental care and whether your dental insurance covers you. Below is a list of the most common dental emergencies and what you should do, including when you should contact your dentist. Mild to moderate toothache, which only occurs occasionally, is not usually an emergency but should be checked out by a dentist at your next appointment. A falling tooth, toothache, a chipped tooth, or pain from a dental crown can be serious dental problems, but not necessarily an emergency. So it’s best to review your options ahead of time.
Some emergency rooms or dental emergency clinics are open 24/7 to help patients with urgent needs. If your gums bleed due to trauma or a mouth laceration, you need emergency dental care, especially if you’re having trouble stopping the bleeding. Although occasional gum irritation is not a dental emergency, gums that won’t stop bleeding, particularly when accompanied by pain and swelling, may indicate an underlying dental or health issue.
