Should You Go to the Dentist or ER for a Dental Emergency?

When you’re in the middle of a dental emergency, your first thought is likely to be, “What should I do?!” First things first, don’t panic! Whether you’re dealing with an aching or broken tooth, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. Your next thought is probably, “Should I go to the hospital or call my dentist?!” Over 800,000 people each year go to the ER for dental emergencies, but many of them should have gone to the dentist instead. If you have a dental emergency in far North Dallas, here’s how to decide whether you should call your dentist or go to the emergency room.

Reasons to Go to the Dentist:

Chipped, Cracked or Broken Tooth

Injuries, accidents or crunching on nuts and hard candy can all result in a chipped or broken tooth. Depending on the damage, a chipped tooth may not have any pain at all and can be fixed with a crown, bonding or veneer. But the pain that can accompany a cracked or broken tooth can be intense. In this case, your dentist may need to perform an emergency root canal or a dental extraction.

Loose or Knocked-Out Teeth

If your tooth has been knocked loose, your dentist may be able to save it. Treatments may include a deep cleaning, which may help tighten the gum’s grip on it, replacing it with a dental implant or splinting the tooth by bonding it with surrounding teeth. If it has come completely out of your mouth, they may be able to reattach it to the socket, but this can only be done within an hour or two of it coming out. Make sure to put your tooth in a cup of milk within 5 to 10 minutes and call your dentist right away.

Reasons to Go to the Emergency Room

If you suffer trauma to your face or jawbones, you should get to an emergency room. Other reasons to choose an ER include:

• An abscess that has gone untreated
• Bleeding that lasts for more than 10-15 minutes
• Trauma to the tongue
• Oral swelling that makes it difficult to breathe

Only Dentists Can Perform Dental Procedures

When it comes to a broken or cracked tooth, your dentist is the only one who can perform restorative treatments. Dental implants and dental extractions cannot be done in the emergency room because it is actually illegal for anyone other than a dentist to perform these procedures. The emergency room can give you pain medication or antibiotics, and that’s about it.

The bottom line is that when it comes to dental emergencies, an ER can’t treat a broken or chipped tooth. Save yourself time and stress by having your first call be to your dentist.

About the Practice

The dentists at Bear Creek Family Dentistry are equipped to provide all patients with exceptional dental care, no matter what their needs may be. From dental implants to root canal treatments, they are prepared to assist any patient in need of emergency dental services. If you find yourself dealing with a dental emergency, visit the website or contact the office at (972) 490-1600 for immediate assistance.