A dentist is a doctor who specializes in oral health. They diagnose and treat and prevent and treat diseases of the teeth, gums, and jaw. Some dentists also specialize in other areas, such as cosmetic dentistry, pediatric care, and orthodontics.

What is an emergency dentist?

An emergency dentist is a dentist who is available to treat patients after hours or on a holiday when their regular dentist’s office is closed. Emergencies can include knocked out, broken, or cracked teeth, toothaches, and oral infections. Emergency dentists are equipped to perform root canal therapy, tooth extraction, and other treatments in order to restore a patient’s oral health. If you experience an oral injury or infection that requires immediate treatment, visit an emergency dentist as soon as possible to minimize the risk of permanent damage to your teeth and gums.

When it’s not possible to go to your regular dentist for treatment, contact an emergency dentist in your area to schedule an appointment. Many practices offer drop-in appointments for emergencies, so it’s important to ask about your options when you call to schedule your appointment.

Emergency Dental Clinics

While many dentists offer emergency care, there are clinics that specialize in specific services like braces or pediatric dentistry. These clinics are great resources for patients in need of immediate care but aren’t facing an emergency.

There are some situations where a person needs to see a dentist immediately. If a tooth has been knocked out and is still intact, it is possible to save it by placing it back in its socket within one hour of it being knocked out. If the tooth is dirty, rinse it briefly using water and then try to reinsert it. Once the tooth is in place, bite down gently and try to hold it there until you see a dentist. Call the Boston emergency dentist if there is bleeding or if the tooth will not go back into place on its own. If you cannot locate the tooth, do not attempt to force it back into its socket as this can cause damage to the root. Instead, keep it moist in saliva or milk and bring it to the dentist as soon as you can for further instructions.

When Your Tooth Is Cracking

If you have a cracked tooth, see your dentist as soon as possible because you may need to have a crown placed over the tooth to keep it stable and protect your other teeth from moving out of place. The dentist will be able to assess the severity of the crack by performing an examination and may need to take an x-ray to determine the extent of the damage. Cracked teeth can often be repaired with a crown, but if the tooth has broken into pieces below the gum line, a root canal may be necessary to save the tooth and prevent infection from occurring.

If a filling falls out, you have a dental emergency and you should call your dentist to schedule an appointment right away. It is important not to try to put the filling back into the cavity on your own as you may cause more damage than good. If you swallow the filling, do not panic. It is very unlikely that you will experience any adverse health effects from this as long as you do not have an allergy to the material

What’s the difference between an ER and Urgent Dental Care Center?

An emergency room is for serious or life-threatening health emergencies such as an asthma attack, heart attack, stroke or a diabetic emergency such as severe low blood sugar. You’ll also find emergency care centers in hospitals with round the clock hours to help patients facing a serious health crisis. The types of services you’ll find at an ER are advanced medical tests, X-rays, surgical care and more.

In contrast, an urgent dental care center specializes in treating patients with urgent issues that need immediate treatment such as a toothache, broken tooth, chipped or broken crown, lost filling or a broken denture. While these aren’t life-or-death situations, they can be painful delaying treatment and impacting your quality of life until the issue is resolved. If you need fast relief from pain, call us now to schedule an appointment!