What NOT To Do When You Have A Dental Emergency

Dental emergencies can happen to anyone. From a painful toothache that’s getting worse to a pulled-out filling or a tooth that’s loose, broken, or knocked out due to dental trauma, you need to know what to do when you’ve got a serious emergency.

And not only that, but you need to know what NOT to do. So in this guide from Mestichelli Barnes Dental Associates, we’ll discuss a few things that you should avoid doing when you have a dental emergency in Philadelphia.

1. Don't Assume Your Issue Doesn’t Count As A Dental Emergency

You may think that only serious problems like a broken or cracked tooth count as a dental emergency. But that’s not true. This category is broader than you may think. 

Beyond dental injuries, you can also get emergency care for bleeding gums, toothaches, a pulled-out or damaged piece of dental work, or even something as minor as a piece of food or object that’s lodged between your teeth. 

If your condition is causing you discomfort, bleeding, or pain, and you do not know what to do to treat it on your own, it’s an emergency. Give us a call to schedule a consultation and get help from Dr. Mestichelli or Dr. Barnes.

2. Don’t Ignore The Pain And Hope It Gets Better

Tooth pain is always a sign that something is wrong. If you slip and fall and crack a tooth, the pain isn’t just going to go away on its own. It will get worse. The same is true of a toothache, which could mean that you have an infected tooth. So never ignore your pain. If your mouth hurts, you need to see a dentist. It’s just that simple.

3. Don’t Try To Treat Your Condition On Your Own

For example, don’t just try to treat a toothache by using Orajel and taking pain relievers to help mitigate the pain. This may help for a little bit, but it won’t fix the issue. Eventually, the problem will only get worse.

The same is true of things like dental injuries. If you have a cracked or broken tooth, it’s okay to do things like absorb blood with cotton balls, use ice packs to reduce swelling, or take pain medication to help with discomfort. If you have the time to do this before your dentist’s appointment, go for it. 

But these are only short-term treatments. You still need to see a dentist to get a permanent fix for your condition, and to restore your oral health.

4. Don’t Go To The Emergency Room Unless Your Life Is In Danger 

Unless you believe your life is threatened by your dental emergency, do not go to the emergency room. Life-threatening issues can include things like a broken jaw, or oral/facial swelling that is interfering with proper breathing or swallowing.

In almost all cases, seeing an emergency dentist is better than going to the ER. Most emergency rooms are not set up to deal with dental emergencies, and are extremely expensive. 

If you have reason to believe your life is at risk, you should absolutely go to the ER, but if your condition is not life-threatening, an emergency dentist is the better choice. 

5. Don’t Wait To Call The Dentist – Always Get Immediate Treatment

If you have a dental emergency, call a South Philly dentist right away. The sooner you get help, the better the outcome will be for your emergency. You’ll get the right treatment, avoid further pain and discomfort, and prevent future complications. 

Get The Help You Need In Philadelphia From Mestichelli Barnes Dental Associates

At Mestichelli Barnes Dental Associates, we provide same-day emergency dental care for all of our patients in Philadelphia. If you think you’re having an emergency, don’t wait. Contact us at (215) 334-2000. We’ll schedule a consultation for you as soon as we can, and ensure you get the emergency treatment you need to restore your mouth and get back to your day-to-day routine.