Emergency Dentistry: How General Dentists Handle Emergency and Routine Care Alike

Wondering what you should look for in an emergency dentist? Read on to learn more. General dentists are versatile professionals, and they can handle both routine care and dental emergencies with ease. In fact, the skills they refine through daily practice serve them well during emergencies, so if you need urgent help, your regular dentist can be a great choice.

Make sure you understand whether your dentist offers emergency services. Many do, and having a plan in place ahead of time can make a large difference in your recovery. It only takes a few minutes for a tooth to go from something that can be saved to a permanent loss.

General dentistry vs. emergency dentistry

Your general dentist likely has more emergency skills than you realize. Some of the many tasks they perform daily that are invaluable during an urgent situation include:

Pain management

Dentists fill cavities and perform cleanings for anxious patients daily, giving them deep insight into how to manage pain as effectively as possible. In an emergency situation, pain relief is often the first thing on a patient's mind, and your general dentist can put you at ease. Whether that occurs through laughing gas, local anesthesia, or a prescription for painkillers, you will be in good hands.

Bonding

Dental bonding is the process of affixing a tooth-colored prosthetic material directly to a tooth's surface. It can be used in cosmetic dentistry to beautify the smile, but it is also a valuable tool for repairing chips and cracks that may occur during an emergency.

Dental bonding requires the same skills as applying a filling, from shaping the material to curing it correctly. An emergency dentist will be able to repair a broken tooth in an emergency the same way a general dentist repairs one damaged by long-term decay.

Spotting problems comprehensively

In an emergency, understanding what has happened as quickly as possible is paramount. Structures in the face beyond the actual site of the damage may be implicated in the emergency, and a dentist with extensive in-office experience understands how all these pieces fit together. Looking at the problem from a high-level view allows your dentist to create a comprehensive strategy for restoring your smile, fixing the issue, and leaving you pain-free.

Preventing emergencies

Because your dentist understands how to treat emergencies, they can also work backward to inform their care to avoid urgent issues in the first place. This includes addressing problems early, before they evolve into something more urgent. Dental cleanings, x-rays, and even preventive sealants or fluoride treatments can all keep your mouth strong to withstand sudden trauma that may otherwise cause an emergent situation.