Emergency Dentistry 101: 7 Dental Emergency Mistakes to Avoid
In the United States, there are about 2 million visits each year to the emergency room for dental pain.
A dental emergency can happen anytime, anywhere. But the emergency room may not be the best place to go.
If you’re experiencing this type of emergency, it’s best to get some emergency dentistry care right away. Keep reading to find out what you should avoid doing if you find yourself in this type of situation.
What Is Emergency Dentistry?
You’ll need emergency dentistry when you have a dental emergency that needs to be fixed as soon as possible. This might be something like a toothache, having your teeth knocked out, getting a chipped or cracked tooth, an infection, or severely bleeding gums.
Experiencing these can be scary, and with many people having a phobia of a dentist, many people will ignore the problem. But that’s one of the many mistakes that can make it harder for an emergency dentist to treat you.
Emergency dentists are there 24/7 to help treat whatever issue you have. They’ll be able to repair your teeth or at least provide some pain relief and treatment.
If you think you need emergency dental services, try to avoid these seven mistakes.
1. Trying to Self-Medicate
Google can be a great thing, but many people will try and diagnose their issues online without a professional. This can lead them to self-medicate and end up making the problem even worse.
Some people might take some topical ointments or painkillers to try and relieve the pain. This might work in the short term, but it’s not a long-term solution. Taking these painkillers only hides the symptoms; it doesn’t get to the root cause of the issue.
For example, it may help relieve your infection symptoms, but the infection could still be spreading underneath the surface. In addition to that, some of these drugs can cause harmful side effects and interact with other medications that you’re taking. This is why it’s always best to seek out help from a dentist.
2. Hoping It Will Go Away on Its Own
Some people may just hope that within a few days, the issue will resolve itself and they’ll never have to worry about going to the dentist. However, the longer you ignore it, the worse the situation could get.
When you visit your dentist sooner, they’ll be able to look and treat the underlying cause and actually give you a treatment that will work. That way, you won’t have to keep worrying about it, and the chances of it being an issue in the future also diminish.
3. Relying on Only Home Remedies
Some people find suggested home remedies for their issues while they’re Googling their problems. There are all kinds of solutions and suggestions on the Internet, but they can’t replace having a professional treat the problem.
For example, you may find that herbal remedies can help or use ice cubes or heat to help numb the pain. These might work, but again, they will only work in the short term. They don’t solve the issue. An actual dentist will be able to treat the cause of the pain and also help you have good oral hygiene.
4. Waiting Too Long for Treatment
Some people know that they need to go to the dentist for treatment, but they may be too busy or think that it isn’t that important of an issue right away. Delaying treatment can make the problem much worse, and depending on the issue, it can even be life-threatening.
This can lead to problems such as tooth loss or decay, and it can make the situation so much worse. Plus, the longer you wait to actually treat the problem, chances are higher that it will be more expensive to treat as well.
Whenever you notice something, it’s always best to get it treated as soon as possible.
5. Continuing to Eat as Normal
If you have an infection or a lost tooth, try to avoid eating as much as possible. This could make the issue worse and even help to spread the infection.
Only avoid eating if you can see an emergency dentist that same day. If you can’t, minimize eating excess food.
6. Mishandling Your Teeth
If your emergency happens to be that your teeth are knocked out, you might just throw the tooth away. But you should save it because if you handle it properly, the dentist may be able to put it back in.
However, you should avoid touching any of the roots of the tooth. Try cleaning it out by using cold water for a few seconds. You can try and put the tooth back in the hole and then head to an emergency dentist as quickly as you can.
7. Going to the Wrong Emergency Dentist
When you’re experiencing an emergency, you might go to the first dentist that you can find. However, not all dentists are created equal. You need to choose a dentist who has experience in emergency dental care.
Not all of them are trained to handle emergency situations and provide emergency care, and if you go to the wrong dentist, it can make your situation even worse. An inexperienced dentist might misdiagnose and mistreat you, which can delay treatment. This will end up leading to even worse complications.
Make sure that you do your research and find a good dentist who has open availability and can provide good, emergency treatment.
Find a Dentist in Monument, Colorado
Avoid these emergency dentistry mistakes and make an appointment with our dentist in Monument, Colorado, today. We’ll fit you into the schedule and be able to treat your emergency issue as quickly as possible so that it doesn’t get worse.
Make sure that you contact us today to request an appointment.
