Dental pain can strike suddenly, and it’s often excruciating. More often than not, you can’t access your own dentist, whether they don’t have space or it’s outside of the normal working hours. So, you’re left with two options. It’s either a trip to the ER or you need to find an emergency dentist near me in North Seattle.
The question for many is which one is right. Do you really want a trip to the ER just for oral pain? Will an emergency dentist be the best option? There are different factors to consider.
The Emergency Dentist Is Often the First Choice
For a lot of people, finding an emergency dentist near me in North Seattle is going to be the first choice. You get to keep the costs down, as you don’t have a hospital visit, and you will find it a little more comfortable as it’s a normal dental office. The emergency dentist may even be able to see you faster, because you’re not being triaged with other serious health conditions.
The emergency dentist is popular for tooth pain caused by lost crowns or fillings, broken teeth, gum infections, or abscesses. A dentist will be able to perform an X-ray to find the exact reason for the pain, and they’ll be able to fix many issues there and then. Some of them can even prescribe medication, even if it’s an infection!
In some cases, you can get temporary relief so that you can see your own dentist for the full treatment. This is often just what you need when you have a sudden onset of pain.
The ER May Be Necessary
There are times that the emergency dentist near me in North Seattle isn’t going to be enough. This is especially the case if your oral pain is more complex than a lost filling or crown. Maybe you were involved in a sporting injury, which has led to severe trauma to the mouth. In this case, you may need an oral surgeon.
If your tooth pain is linked to other health problems, such as difficulty swallowing or trouble breathing, you need to get to the ER right away. Even the emergency dentist will want you to go there. It suggests that an infection has gotten worse and is in other parts of your body.
The ER will initially work to stabilize you and find out the cause of the pain. If this is serious, they could admit you. Otherwise, they could just recommend a trip to your regular dentist after giving you temporary treatment options.
Most of the time, you’ll want to take a trip to the emergency dentist near me in North Seattle when you have sudden oral pain. The ER isn’t equipped to handle most dental needs, especially if the pain is from a cracked tooth or a missing crown. That being said, there are serious conditions that could end up eventually leading to pain in the mouth, but they need a surgeon to take care of them, and in that case, you’ll need to visit the ER. Call your own dentist and describe your symptoms. While they may not be able to see you, they could recommend the best course of treatment.
