If your teeth are hurting and you can’t sleep, should you head to the ER? Probably not. It’s an expensive non-solution to your hurting tooth. Even after a visit to the ER, you will still need to go to the dentist to have it checked. It is very rare for an emergency room or urgent care center to have a dentist on staff or on call. And only a dentist can perform tooth extractions, fillings, and cleanings. In a majority of cases, what you can expect from the emergency room is a prescription for painkillers until you can see a dentist for your problem.
When to Visit the Emergency Room For a Toothache
It’s important to know when you should go to the emergency room for a toothache. If your toothache is caused by a blunt force accident or trauma and is accompanied by swelling and bleeding, or if there is evidence of pus formation, you should go to the emergency room. You could have an infection or jaw fracture. In such situations, there may also be something wrong with the skull or brain.
However, if it’s a toothache caused by something you ate or negligent oral care habits, it’s best to call a dentist and schedule an appointment. The same applies if your toothache develops without a known cause. Because dentists are the only professionals with training, skill, and experience to perform dentistry, schedule an appointment with one at the first sign of pain.
Invest in Preventive Dental Care
In order to avoid a scenario in which you are experiencing a lot of pain, you should invest in preventive care by paying regular visits to your dentist. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends at least one dental visit a year for low-risk patients or patients with healthy oral health. Patients with dental work, dry mouth, diabetes, and bad lifestyle habits should see a dentist at least twice a year or as recommended by a dentist.
A routine dental visit includes a professional cleaning, where the dentist can address issues early on before they result in situations that garner a toothache. If you have a cavity, it can be fixed early on before it causes worse issues. If you have improper oral health habits, your dentist can guide you on what changes to make. This way, you can take care of your teeth and avoid situations that would cause a toothache down the road.
Tooth Pain Diagnosis and Treatment in Henderson, Nevada
As our name suggests, Dedicated Dental Care is dedicated to keeping your mouth healthy and your teeth beautiful. Our goal is to prevent scenarios that would cause painful toothaches. We are a family dental practice providing a broad range of dental services.
For your convenience and situations of emergency, we accept same-day appointments for emergency dental care. If you are experiencing tooth pain, call Dedicated Dental Care at (702) 566-5509 so we can schedule an appointment to fix the problem. Alternatively, you can also schedule an appointment online.
Our friendly Dedicated Dental Care team maintains a warm and relaxing environment in our Henderson dental clinic and is happy to serve you!