If You Have a Dental Emergency, Should You Visit the ER?

As America battles the COVID-19 pandemic, most dentists have temporarily stopped providing elective care. The purpose of this is to slow down the spread of the virus. Unfortunately, dental emergencies can still happen during this trying period. If you find yourself in this situation, should you visit the ER or contact a local dentist for treatment? Read on to get the answer and to find out why it’s so important to make the right decision!

Most Dentists are Providing Emergency Dental Care

If you go to most dentists’ sites, you’ll see a message saying that the offices are temporarily closed for elective treatments due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, many dentists are still providing emergency dental care. That’s because these critical moments are time-sensitive, can sometimes lead to more acute problems and, in some cases, can be life-threatening.

Thus, if you have a dental emergency, you should contact a dentist first. Here are some of the reasons why it’s so important to do so:

• Dentists are fully equipped to treat dental emergencies at their practices.
• There is a chance that your local ER is being flooded with potential COVID-19 patients.
• By heading to a crowded ER, there is a greater chance of being infected or spreading the virus.

Properly Identifying a Dental Emergency

In addition to seeking care from an emergency dentist, it’s also helpful to know what the typical symptoms of a dental emergency are. Here are some of the indicators to be on the lookout for:

• Loose or dislodged tooth
• Uncontrollable bleeding
• Trauma involving facial bones that can potentially inhibit your breathing
• A soft tissue bacterial infection with painful swelling in the mouth or jaw, that can potentially compromise your airway

There are Two Exceptions

While visiting your dentist is usually the best option for treatment, there are two types of emergencies that pose an even more immediate threat than others. One of them is oral bleeding that lasts longer than 10 minutes. This is a situation that you want to head directly to the ER for.

If you have a bad fall or receive blunt force trauma to the face, and you suspect you have a broken jaw, this is also an issue that you should head to the hospital for. To prevent any further damage while in transit, you can tie a soft cloth around your head.

Dental emergencies are always troublesome, even without the threat of COVID-19. The good news is that, for most situations, your local dentist and staff are standing on the front lines to provide the vital care you need.

About the Author

Dr. J. Lee Pettigrew earned his dental degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. An avid learner who has taken numerous hours of continuing education, he is a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry. Although Dr. Pettigrew isn’t currently providing elective care, he is still available to treat dental emergencies at his private practice. He can be reached for more information through his website.