A Dental Emergency Or Can You Afford To Wait?

 

Emergency dentist services are what a lot of people seek out when they're having severe problems or pain with their teeth and gums. However, some of us have a tendency to underplay the problem and think we may be making a bit of 'a scene', avoiding asking a dentist to help. Others may panic, often unnecessarily. So what is constituted as an emergency? General toothache? Blinding pain? Or noticeable discomfort? In this article, we go into what defines a dental 'emergency' and what kind of help you can expect.

When it comes to dealing with an emergency dental situation, you obviously need to find an emergency dentist who can help alleviate your pain. But what constitutes a dental emergency? Well, anything that causes discomfort and pain for you can be classed as a dental emergency. One such cause is an abscess. Teeth that have become abscessed can, of course, be saved. That's why it is extremely important if you believe that you have an abscess, that you contact an emergency dentist as soon as possible. Abscesses are likely only to get worse over time because of the infection – so an earlier appointment gives the best chance of the tooth being saved through root canal treatment. 

However, the problem might be more obvious to the naked eye. You may have broken or fractured your tooth in some way, which is by far the most obvious indication that you seek out emergency dental services. Damaged or chipped teeth may not seem so urgent – meaning that you may decide to make a general appointment rather than an emergency, same-day visit. But broken or chipped teeth do require urgent attention. That's not just to help fix the broken teeth in some way, but because an emergency dental visit can help to prevent further damage (brought on by structural weakness). It can also help prevent any possible inflammation or irritation that might flare up and cause the eventual loss of the tooth in question.

So if you feel like you may indeed have a dental emergency that requires immediate consultation with an emergency dentist, how do you find emergency dental services? There are, of course, many dentists who you could choose for anything from pain relief to retainers. So the reality of the situation is that it comes down to the quality of service and the skills and qualifications of the dentist. There is a temptation for many people to rely on state dentistry. However, the reality is that the state is under-resourced. This means you may end up having to queue for hours, or even come back the following day, if you’re seeking out emergency care for your teeth. 

More than that, state dentistry is likely only to offer a quick fix and a basic service. If you value your smile and time is of the essence, either because you’re in severe pain or simply have a hectic lifestyle, then it can be a good idea to go with a private dentist. He or she is focused solely on providing a timely, quality service to all of their clients. You also want a dentist with the right qualifications and experience. We all like to know that we are getting value for money with any service that we purchase, and dentistry is no different.