Emergency dentistry involves providing dental care and treatment services that can't wait for the standard business days or hours. You can count on emergency dentists to provide relief for your tooth pain or deal with other dental emergency situations when you don't have a dentist or your regular dentist is closed for the weekend or away on holiday.
If there are multiple emergency dental clinics in your area, choosing the right one for your needs can be a confusing thing. The following tips can help you make the correct choice.
Ask Your Regular Dentist for a Referral
You may be surprised to learn that most regular dentists don't consider emergency dentists as competition. Rather, they consider them to be business networks that they can refer their clients to for help when they are not available.
If your regular dentist doesn't offer after-hours dental service, ask them to recommend a dentist who operates 24/7 to you. This way, you will have someone to turn to attend to you no matter the day or hour of the day it is.
Consider the Range of Services Available
There are many different kinds of dental emergencies that you may face in your lifetime. These include but are not limited to:
- Toothaches
- Dental avulsions
- Damaged dentures
- Lost dental fillings
- Abscessed teeth
These dental emergencies may occur as a result of trauma, such as a blow to your head, or prolonged and underlying oral health problems. Choose a dentist that can handle a wide variety of these emergencies. This will reduce the chances of being turned away because the specific emergency dental care or treatment you need isn't offered.
Consider Distance Involved
When you are in need of emergency dental service, you should see your emergency dentist within the shortest time possible. The amount of time it takes to get dental attention could make the difference between saving and losing a tooth, so it's important that you see a dentist as quickly as possible.
In this regard, it is often recommended that you choose an emergency dentist that is located near you. This will ensure that you get the urgent dental care and treatment you need without delay.
When you are facing a dental emergency, you may find yourself in frantic need of treatment. In the process, you might end up turning to the first emergency dentist you come across. Such a dentist might not be the right one for you. Looking for an emergency dentist beforehand is your best bet for finding the best dentist for you.
