Emergency Dentist

In general, hospital emergency rooms do not have a dentist on staff. Walk-ins to an emergency room would be given antibiotics or pain medication and told to contact their dentist. Your oral care provider should be the first person you contact in a dental emergency. Can they pull teeth in the emergency room? No, it is illegal for anyone other than a dentist to perform an emergency tooth extraction, emergency root canal or any other dental care.

Is a chipped tooth a dental emergency? Most likely no, unless the tooth is causing you severe pain. In general, lost fillings, cracked teeth, broken or damaged retainers, or dull toothaches are considered non-urgent dental emergencies. Urgent dental emergencies include persistent bleeding, facial trauma resulting in a knocked out tooth or fractured facial bones, jaw injury, painful swelling, signs of infection that could indicate an abscess or an emergency toothache. In these situations, you should contact an emergency oral surgeon.

If you are in need of an emergency tooth extraction, emergency root canal or any other dental emergency, contact your emergency oral surgeon immediately. Your dentist should allow walk-ins, no appointment necessary, for dental emergencies. If you are concerned about emergency dental with no insurance, let your dentist know up front so they can explain to you your options.

An abscessed tooth is an infection at the root of the tooth between the tooth and the gum. It can be caused by tooth decay, gingivitis or trauma to the tooth. The most common symptoms are a severe emergency toothache, sensitivity to temperatures and pressure, fever, swelling in your face or cheek and swollen lymph nodes under your jaw or in your neck.

Routine teeth cleaning and checkups are the best way to prevent many dental emergencies such as an abscess or other infection or loose fillings, crowns or veneers. Wearing a mouthguard during sports can also prevent many accidents that could lead to dental emergencies.