If you or your loved one loses or damages a tooth, develops a severe toothache, or sustains an oral injury, you probably want to receive dental care right away! Your instincts are good in such a situation; dental emergencies like these can often become worse without prompt treatment. But how do you contact a dentist on such short notice? Will they even accept a same-day appointment?
Below, this post will go over what you need to know about finding a dentist when you them most. So keep calm and read on!
Call Your Regular Dentist
If there’s a dentist you see on a regular basis, call them first. Many practices do accept same-day appointments in the case of an emergency, and they’ll do their best to see you as soon as possible. Even if it happens to be outside their normal business hours, it’s still worth trying to contact them. Some dental offices have systems in place to arrange appointments after closing time.
When to Search the Internet for Nearby Offices
Now, some troubling dental situations can wait a day or two without putting your oral health at risk. For example, lost fillings or crowns, a broken denture, jaw pain, and mild tooth sensitivity are not necessarily cause for alarm – though they can be shocking.
However, if the problem is a toothache, chipped or cracked tooth, loose or knocked-out pearly white, oral injury, or hazardous object stuck between the teeth, then you might want to start searching the internet for other available offices. The ADA has a “find-a-dentist” tool that can help speed up the process. You can even filter for a specific specialty, though if you’re not sure what type of dentist would be best, try to find a general practice.
If All Else Fails, Go to the ER!
If you can’t find a dentist available to take care of your urgent needs, go to the emergency room! While dentists are generally better equipped to treat specific dental conditions, emergency room staff can provide pain relief and administer stabilization measures. They can also put you in touch with an emergency-ready dentist when necessary, so don’t hesitate to resort to this option.
It’s more likely than not that you’ll be able to find a quality dentist for your dental emergency, but it’s nice to know that if you can’t, you can rely on an emergency room for same-day care. No matter what your specific needs are, it’s important to seek treatment promptly. Your dentist will work hard to restore your oral health!
About the Practice
Our team at La Prada Family Dentistry is well-equipped to treat patients of all ages and backgrounds. Whether you’ve chipped a tooth or lost a filling, we’ll do our best to see you as soon as possible and make sure you’re comfortable during treatment. We have same-day appointments available for dental emergencies, as well as extended evening hours and weekend availability. If you need urgent dental care near Garland, contact our office at 214-227-6577.
